fi 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

University  of  California. 

Class 


■<S-2 


COLLECTIONS 


OF   THE 


NEW  JERSEY 


HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


VOLUME   II. 


PRINTED  FOR  THE 

NEW  JERSEY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 
1847. 


OFFICERS 

OF    THE 

NEW  JERSEY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 

ELECTED  1847. 


Hon.  JOSEPH  C.  HORNBLOWER,  LL.  D.,  President,  Neicark. 
ROBERT  G.  JOHNSON,  Esq.,  1st  Vice  President,  Salem. 
Hon.  PETER  D.  VROOM,           2d  «  Trenton. 

Hon.  JAMES  PARKER,               3d  "  Perth  Amboy. 

WILLIAM  A.  WHITEHEAD,  Corresponding  Secretary,  Newark, 
JOSEPH  P.  BRADLEY,  Recording  Secretary,  Newark. 
THOMAS  J.  STRYKER,  Treasurer,  Trenton. 
— — -,  Librarian, - — — . 


EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE. 


Rev.  DANIEL  V.  McLEAN,  Freehold. 

Rev.  NICHOLAS  MURRAY,  D.  D.,  Elixabethtown. 

WILLIAM  B.  KINNEY,  Newark. 

ARCHER  GIFFORD,  Newark. 

STACY  G.  POTTS,  Trenton. 

Rev.  JOHN  MACLEAN,  D.  D.,  Princeton. 

LITTLETON  KlRKPATRICK,  New  Brunswick. 

Rt.  Rev.  GEO.  W.  DOANE,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Burlington. 

ELIAS  B.  D.  OGDEN,  Paterson. 


COMMITTEE    ON    PUBLICATIONS. 

Hon.  WILLIAM  A.  DUER,  LL  D., 
Rev.  NICHOLAS  MURRAY,  D.  D., 
CHARLES  KING, 
Rev.  ELI  F.  COOLEY, 
JOHN  S.  CONDIT,  M.  D., 
WILLIAM  B.  KINNEY, 
WILLIAM  A.  WHITEHEAD. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 


i^t       (f^i^trrf 


^/-  j£L^  ^>e^C. 


e^r~o 


THE    LIFE 


WILLIAM   ALEXANDER 


EARL  OF  STIRLING; 


MAJOR  GENERAL  IN  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 
DURING  THE  REVOLUTION : 


SELECTIONS   FROM  HIS   CORRESPONDENCE 

BY  HIS  GRANDSON, 

WILLIAM  ALEXANDER   DUER,  LL.  D. 


Actis,  aevum  implet,  con  segnibus  annis. 


PUBLISHED  FOR  THE 

NEW    JERSEY    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 
BY  WILEY  &  PUTNAM,  NEW-YORK. 

1847. 


e*%* 


—* 


P 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1847, 

By  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  U.  S.  District  Court  for  the  District  of  the  State  of 

New- Jersey. 


Leavitt,  Trow  &  Co.  Printers, 
33  Ann-street,  N.  Y. 


TO    THE 

NEW  JERSEY  STATE  SOCIETY  OF  THE  CINCINNATI, 

THIS    MEMOIR 

OF    THE 

LIFE      AND     SERVICES 

OF    THE 

SENIOR    OFFICER    OF   THE    REVOLUTIONARY   ARMY    FROM 
NEW  JERSEY, 

Es  respectfully  Xit*crfl)ttr, 

AS      A     TRIBUTE     DUE      TO      THAT      ASSOCIATION 

OF    HIS 

DISBANDED  FELLOW-SOLDIERS, 

IN    WHICH, 

HAD     HE     LIVED     LONG     ENOUGH, 

HE    WOULD    HAVE    BEEN 

AMONG    THE    FIRST    TO    ENROL 

HIS  NAME. 


225839 


PREFACE 


The  chief  materials  of  the  following  memoir  lay  for 
many  years  unknown  in  the  possession  of  the  widow  of 
its  subject,  and  were  not  examined  until  some  time 
after  her  decease.  They  were  then  lost  sight  of  for  a 
long  period,  in  consequence  of  a  hasty  removal  from  an 
alarm  of  yellow  fever,  and  when  recovered  they  were 
presented  to  the  Historical  Society  of  New-York,  as  a 
fit  depositary  for  documents  serving  to  illustrate  our 
revolutionary  annals. 

As  the  author  is  well  aware  that  whatever  of  value 
or  interest  may  attach  to  his  work  will  be  due  to 
the  correspondence  it  embraces,  he  cannot  forbear 
expressing  his  regret  that  a  number  of  the  most  im- 
portant letters  in  the  original  collection  are  not  now  to 
be  found.  They  were  selected  from  the  mass,  and  laid 
aside  for  greater  security  ;  but,  as  not  unfrequently  hap- 
pens in  such  cases,  they  were  lost — perhaps,  hrough 
the  very  means  intended  for  their  preservation.  This 
accident  is  the  more  to  be  lamented,  as  the  letters  in 


x[y  PREFACE. 


question  comprised  the  correspondence  of  Lord  Stirling, 
both  during  his  residence  in  England  and  after  his  return 
to  this  country,  with  the  Earls  of  Chatham,  Bute,  and 
Shelburne,  Mr.  Charles  Townshend,  Mr.  Wedderburn — 
afterwards  Lord  Loughborough — and  other  British  states- 
men, upon  American  affairs,  during  a  period  when  most 
of  those  persons  were  cabinet  ministers,  and  all  of  them 
members  of  Parliament. 

The  same  packet  contained  also,  what  was  still  more 
valuable,  the  private  correspondence  of  General  Wash- 
ington with  Lord  Stirling,  during  the  revolutionary  war. 
This  circumstance  will  account  for  the  very  few  letters 
from  the  former  to  be  found  in  this  publication.  Every 
effort  has  been  made,  as  may  be  supposed,  to  recover 
the  lost  packet,  but  hitherto  without  success.  Should 
it  chance,  however,  to  come  to  light  hereafter,  the  con- 
tents will  be  communicated  to  the  public  through  some 
proper  medium. 

The  plan  adopted  in  the  execution  of  the  present 
work  has  fortunately  left  little  else  for  the  biographer 
than  the  task  of  connecting  the  letters  by  a  running 
narrative,  with  explanatory  notes  and  observations, — a 
method  recommended  not  only  by  approved  examples, 
but  as  calculated  to  avoid  the  temptation,  as  well  as  the 
suspicion,  of  partiality,  which  might  otherwise  arise 
from  the  relationship  of  the  author  with  the  subject  of 
his  memoir.  If  in  any  instance,  however,  his  narrative 
has  received  a  colouring  from  so  natural  a  bias,  it  can 
hardly  escape  the  attention  of  his  readers,  and  can  never 


PREFACE. 


XV 

mislead  them — inasmuch  as  they  will  be  able  to  form 
their  own  judgments  of  the  character  of  Lord  Stirling 
from  the  correspondence  itself,  independently  of  the 
remarks  by  which  it  is  accompanied,  and  to  decide  upon 
his  conduct  from  the  extraneous  evidence  afforded  by 
authentic  memorials  of  the  period. 

In  committing  these  pages  to  the  press,  the  author 
gladly  embraces  the  opportunity  of  acknowledging  his 
obligations  to  the  Historical  Society  of  New-York ;  and 
in  particular  to  Prosper  M.  Wetmore,  Esq.,  Chairman  of 
its  Executive  Committee,  for  the  liberality  and  courtesy, 
which,  by  placing  the  original  documents  at  his  disposal, 
have  enabled  him  to  avail  himself  of  them  in  the  execution 
of  his  work.  To  that  body,  also,  and  especially  to  the 
exertions  of  one  of  its  most  active  and  efficient  members, 
Dr.  John  W.  Francis,  the  thanks  of  the  public,  as  well 
as  of  the  author,  are  due  for  the  recovery  of  these  papers 
on  the  occasion  already  referred  to. 

Morristown,  N.  /.,  January  8,  1847. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

The  Committee  charged  with  the  publication  of  this  volume 
would,  in  behalf  of  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society,  express  their 
obligations  to  Professor  Jared  Sparks,  LL.  D.,  for  his  liberality, 
in  placing  at  the  disposal  of  the  Society  the  plates  of  the  battle- 
grounds which  illustrate  the  work. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 


Introduction — Birth  of  Lord  Stirling — His  father,  James  Alexander,  a  native 
of  Scotland — Cause  of  his  emigration  to  America — Enters  office  of  Secre- 
tary of  the  Province,  on  his  arrival  at  New- York — Appointed  Surveyor- 
General  of  New- York  and  New  Jersey — Commences  practice  of  the  Law 
■ — Attains  eminence  as  Chamber  Counsel — Appointed  Attorney-General 
of  New  Jersey,  and  a  Member  of  Council  in  both  Provinces — Distinguishes 
himself  as  an  Advocate  in  Zenger's  case — Excluded  from  the  Bar  in  New- 
York  for  the  boldness  of  his  defence,  and  from  the  Council — Afterwards 
restored — Marries  widow  of  "  Ready-money  "  Provoost — Death  of  James 
Alexander — Lord  Stirling,  his  only  son — His  education — Succeeds  his 
father  as  Surveyor-General  of  New  Jersey — Becomes  a  merchant,  an 
army-contractor,  and  commissary — Appointed  Aid-de-camp  and  Secretary 
to  Gen.  Shirley — Accompanies  Shirley  to  England — Examined  as  a  wit- 
ness on  his  behalf  at  the  Bar  of  the  House  of  Commons — Letter  from 
Charles  Townshend — Prefers  claim  to  Earldom  of  Stirling — Returned 
heir-male  of  the  last  Earl — Legal  question  as  to  descent  of  Earldom. 
1716-1759 1 

CHAPTER  II. 

Object  of  Mr.  Alexander  in  preferring  his  claim — Assumes  the  title  of  Earl  of 
Stirling,  after  opinion  of  Wedderburn,  and  other  Counsel,  in  favour  of  his 
right — Con  tern  plates  establishing  himself  in  Scotland — Correspondence  with 
Staats  L.  Morris,  the  Duchess  of  Gordon,  and  others — Hires  house  in 
London — Resides  there  some  years — Correspondence  with  Rev.  J.  Porteous, 
Andrew  Stuart,  William  Trumbull  and  Philipps  Lee — Death  of  his  mother 
— Returns  to  America.     1759-1761.      .......    27 


x  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  III. 

Lord  Stirling  resides  at  first  in  New- York— Commences  building  at  Basken- 
ridge — Removes  to  New  Jersey — Appointed  member  of  Provincial  Coun- 
cil— Corresponds  with  his  friends  in  England — Letter  to  the  Earl  of  Bute 
— Other  claims  to  Earldom,  not  established — Interests  himself  for  King's 
College — Sir  James  Jay — Correspondence  with  Lord  Romney,  the  Earl  of 
Bute,  Thomas  Harley,  Peter  De  Lancey,  Jr.,  Ph.  Livingston,  Jr.,  John 
Penn,  Henry  Drummond,  William  Coxe,  R.  H.  Morris,  the  Earl  of  Bute, 
Governor  Franklin,  William  Amherst,  and  General  Gage.     1761-1764.    .     50 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Attempt  to  tax  America  by  authority  of  British  Parliament — Opinion  of  Sir 
Robert  Walpole — "Boldness"  of  George  Grenville — Stamp  Act,  opposed 
by  Lord  Stirling — Its  repeal — Correspondence  with  Henry  Wilmot,  Gov- 
ernor Franklin,  Captain  Kennedy,  Philip  Livingston,  Jr.,  John  Taber 
Kemp,  Daniel  Coxe,  and  Chief  Justice  Smith — The  Earl  of  Perth — Lord 
Drummond — Proprietary  rights  in  New  Jersey — Robbery  of  Treasury 
of  that  Province — Ford,  Cooper,  and  other  counterfeiters — Correspondence 
with  Colonel  Samuel  Ogden — Advertisement  of  Col.  Ogden.     1764-1774.     82 


CHAPTER  V. 

Occupations  of  Lord  Stirling  at  Baskenridge — Opposes  ministerial  measures 
for  taxing  the  Colonies — Chosen  Colonel  of  a  militia  regiment— Governor 
Franklin's  remonstrance — Lord  Stirling's  justification — Subsequent  cor- 
respondence, and  rupture  between  them — Appointed  by  Congress  to  com- 
mand 1st  New  Jersey  regiment  in  Continental  service — Establishes  his 
head-quarters  at  Elizabethtown — Governor  Franklin  made  prisoner — Lord 
Stirling  collects  recruits  and  volunteers  ;  embarks  them  on  board  small 
craft ;  boards  and  captures  British  armed  transport — Complimentary  Reso- 
lutions of  Congress— Correspondence  respecting  prize — Promoted  to  be 
Brigadier  General — Ordered  to  New-York — Succeeds  to  command  of  that 
place — Prepares  for  its  defence — Constructs  fortifications  in  harbour,  and 
on  river  above — Calls  in  Militia — Letter  to  Colonel  Ward — Corresponds 
with  General  Schuyler — Regulatious  agreed  on  with  Provincial  Congress, 
for  defence  of  City — Corresponds  with  President  of  Congress,  General 
Washington,  and  the  Governors  of  Connecticut  and  New  Jersey — Note 
from  Dr.  Franklin — British  land  at  Gravesend — Battle  of  Long  Island — 
Lord  Stirling  made  prisoner — His  letter  to  General  Washington — Letter 
of  General  Sullivan — Lord  Stirling  exchanged.     1774-1776.  .         .  112 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Lord  Stirling  rejoins  the  army  in  New  Jersey — Commands  on  the  lines — Af- 
fair at  Short-hills — Prevents  advance  of  Cornwallis  to  Morristown — 
Ordered  to  watch  British  at  Princeton,  while  Washington  attacks  Hes- 


CONTENTS.  xi 

sians  at  Trenton — Promoted  to  be  Major  General — Sent  again  to  the 
lines — Engages  Cornwallis  near  Scotch-plains— Defeats  his  attempt  on 
Camp  at  Middlebrook— Ordered  to  the  Highlands — Recalled  on  appear- 
ance of  British  fleet  in  the  Delaware — March  of  American  army  to 
Wilmington — Battles  of  Brandywine  and  Germantown — Council  of  War 
— Lord  Stirling's  opinion — Army  encamps  for  the  winter  at  the  Valley- 
Forge.     1776-1777 168 

CHAPTER  VII. 

"  Conway  Cabal  ;"  exposed  by  Lord  Stirling  ;  favoured  by  Congress — Con- 
way appointed  Inspector  General,  Gates  and  Mifflin  to  Board  of  War — 
Conway  repairs  to  army  ;  received  coldly  by  Washington  ;  shunned  by 
Oflicers ;  resigns  and  returns  to  France— -Wilkinson's  account  of  the  affair 
grossly  inaccurate — His  intrigues  and  duplicity — Appointed  Secretary  to 
Board  of  War  ;  treated  coldly  by  Gates  ;  resigns,  and  quarrels  with  him — 
Brevetted  a  Brigadier,  but  compelled  to  resign — Appointed  Clothier  Gen- 
eral— Letter  of  Abraham  Clark — Movements  of  the  British — They  evac- 
uate Philadelphia  ;  followed  by  Washington  ;  encamp  near  Monmouth 
Court-House — Battle  of  Monmouth — Conduct  and  arrest  of  General 
Lee — British  retreat  to  Sandy  Hook — Embark  on  board  of  fleet — Re- 
turn to  New-York — Washington  advances  to  the  Hudson,  cresses  the 
river,  and  encamps  at  White  Plains — Lord  Stirling  presides  at  Court- 
Martial  on  Lee — Sentence  suspending  Lee  approved  by  Congress — His 
subsequent  death,     1777-1778 180 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Arrival  of  French  fleet — Visit  to  New- York  of  Lady  Stirling  und  her  daugh- 
ter— Their  letters  to  Lord  Stirling — He  is  ordered  to  New  Jersey— Di- 
rects expedition  of  Major  H.  Lee  against  Powles  Hook,  and  covers  his 
retreat — Receives  thanks  of  Congress— Letter  to  General  Washington — 
Letter  from  General  Greene — Arrival  of  another  French  fleet  with  Ro- 
chambeau's  army — Council  of  War — Lord  Stirling's  opinion — Plan  for  at- 
tacking New- York,  formed  and  abandoned  ;  renewed  the  next  year  ; 
again  relinquished  on  arrival  of  De  Grasse — Combined  American  and 
French  army  marches  to  Virginia.     1778-1779 199 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Lord  Stirling  ordered  to  Albany — Takes  command  of  Northern  Depart- 
ment— Threatened  invasion  from  Canada — His  measures  to  repel  it — Or- 
ders to  Generals  Van  Rensselaer  and  Gansevoort— Corresponds  with  Gen- 
eral Stark — Detaches  Colonel  Willet  to  the  Mohawk — British  advance  by 
Lake  George— Lord  Stirling  repairs  to  Saratoga,  where  he  concentrates 
his  force — Issues  order  of  battle — Receives  intelligence  of  Cornwallis's  sur- 
render— British  retreat  to  Canada — Lord  Stirling  dismisses  Militia — Let- 
ters to  General  Heath,  and  Colonel  Willet — Further  correspondence  with 
Stark— Letter  to  General  Washington.     1779-1781 214 


xii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Lord  Stirling  ordered  to  New  Jersey — In  command  in  that  State — Letter  from 
Count  Alexandre  d'Hanaehe — Correspondence  with  Colonel  Brearly,  and 
Governor  Livingston — Ordered  to  Fishkill,  to  preside  at  Board  of  Officers 
— Lieut  Col.  W.  S.  Smith,  and  Major  Matthew  Clarkson — Letter  to 
Marquis  de  Bouille — Letter  from  Col.  James  Monroe — Again  ordered  to 
take  command  at  Albany — Correspondence  with  Lieut.  Col.  H.  Dearborn 
— Letter  from  General  Sullivan — Instructions  and  correspondence  relative 
to  deserters — Illness  and  death  of  Lord  Stirling — Letter  of  condolence 
from  General  Washington  to  his  widow — Resolutions  of  Congress  on  re- 
ceiving information  of  his  death — His  character.    1781-1783.  .         .243 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Portrait  of  Lord  Stirling, (facing  title-page.) 

Plan  of  the  Battle  of  Long  Island,  .                  162 

Plan  of  the  Battle  of  Brandywine, 174 

Plan  of  the  Battle  of  Uermantown, 177 

Battle  of  Monmouth, 196 

Order  of  Battle  at  Saratov,             227 


ERRATA. 

On  page  2,  line  10,  for  "  where,"  read  were. 

Page  95,  Note,  dele  "  the  son  of." 

Page  113,  line  17,  for  "  Sterling,"  read  Stirling 


THE  LIFE  OF  LOKD  STIRLING. 


CHAPTER     L 

1716-1759. 

Among  the  soldiers  of  the  American  Revolution  there 
is  none,  perhaps,  of  equal  rank,  whose  services  have  been 
so  imperfectly  commemorated  as  those  of  Major-General 
William  Alexander^  better  known  by  his  title  of  Lord 
Stirling.  It  seems,  therefore,  not  less  consonant  to  jus- 
tice than  duty,  that  one  of  his  descendants  should  attempt 
to  compensate  for  this  neglect ;  and  by  a  full  but  impar- 
tial biography,  to  illustrate  the  character  and  record  the 
acts  of  an  officer,  who  was  surpassed  by  few  of  his  con- 
temporaries in  military  experience  and  enterprise, — by 
one  only  in  disinterested  and  zealous  devotion  to  his 
country — by  none  in  the  sacrifices  he  made  for  it. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  in  the  year 
1726,  at  the  city  of  New- York.  His  father,  James 
Alexander,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  took  refuge  in 
America,  in  1716,  in  consequence  of  the  part  he  had 


2  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

taken  in  favour  of  the  House  of  Stuart  in  the  rebellion  of 
the  preceding  year.  James  Alexander  was  remarkable  at 
an  early  age  for  proficiency  in  the  mathematics,  and  skill 
in  those  branches  of  practical  science  which  are  founded 
or  dependent  upon  them.  Thence  he  obtained  some  dis- 
tinction as  an  officer  of  engineers  in  the  service  of  the 
Pretender.  He  seems,  however,  to  have  joined  the 
standard  of  that  unfortunate  adventurer  rather  from  na- 
tional than  political  predilection  :  certain  it  is,  that  his 
family  connections  where  whig,  and  that  he  proved  him- 
self a  stanch  friend  of  whig  principles  from  the  moment 
of  his  arrival  in  the  colonies. 

At  that  period  too,  he  enjoyed,  through  the  influence 
of  John  Duke  of  Argyle,*  the  hereditary  friend  of  his 
family,  not  merely  the  connivance,  but  the  patronage  of 
the  provincial  representatives  of  the  House  of  Bruns- 
wick. Not  long  after  his  arrival  at  New-York,  he  re- 
ceived an  appointment  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of 
the  Province,  "the  best  school,"  says  Mr.  Smith,  the 
historian  of  New-York,  "  for  instruction  in  matters  of 
government."  According  to  the  same  authority,  Mr. 
Alexander  "  afterwards  became  equally  distinguished  for 
his  humanity,  generosity,  great  abilities,  and  honourable 
stations. "f 

His  mathematical  acquirements  soon  recommended 
him  to  the  appointments  of  Surveyor  General  in  New- 
York  and  in  New  Jersey  ;  and  in  1720,  with  his  coun- 
tryman, Dr.  Cadwallader  Colden,  he  was  chosen  by  Gov- 
ernor Burnet,!    also   a    Scotchman,  a  member  of  his 

*  The  "great  Duke"  of  Sir  Walter  $  William  Burnet,  son  of  the  excellent 

Scott — whose  character  is  portrayed  with  Bishop  of  that  name,  and  a  son  worthy 

historical  fidelity  in  that  most  delightful  of  his  illustrious  sire.    He  had  exchanged 

of  fictions"  The  Heart  of  Mid-Lothian."  the  office  of  Comptroller  of  the  Customs 

t  Hist,  of  New- York,  ed.  1830,  p.  271.  with  Governor  Hunter  for  the  Govern- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  3 

Council,  "  in  which  choice,"  says  the  historian,  "  the 
Governor  showed  his  wisdom,  for  they  were  both  men 
of  learning,  good  morals,  and  solid  parts." 

Whilst  employed  in  the  Secretary's  office,  Mr.  Alex- 
ander found  leisure  to  commence  the  study  of  the  law, 
which  he  subsequently  pursued  in  the  intervals  of  his 
labours  as  Surveyor  General.  When  called  to  the  bar 
he  soon  became  more  devoted  to  his  professional  busi- 
ness, than  to  public  affairs,  though  not  to  the  neglect  of 
his  official  duties.  According  to  Mr.  Smith,  Mr.  Alex- 
ander was  "  by  no  means  distinguished  as  a  public  speak- 
er, yet  he  attained  great  eminence  from  his  profound 
legal  knowledge,  sagacity,  and  penetration, — was  regu- 
larly consulted  on  the  most  important  questions,  and  his 
replies  were  received  as  the  answers  of  an  oracle."  On 
one  signal  occasion,  however,  he  gained  not  less  celebrity 
for  talents  and  intrepidity  as  an  advocate,  than  for  the 
soundness  of  his  side-bar  opinions — while  manifesting 
at  the  same  time  the  most  devoted  zeal,  and  uncon- 
querable perseverance  as  a  patriot. 

With  his  friend  William  Smith,*  the  father  of  the 
historian,  and  afterwards  Chief  Justice  of  the  Province, 


ment  of  the  two  Colonies  of  New  Jersey  his  own.  Governor  Burnet's  family  re- 
and  New- York,  and  entered  upon  his  mained  in  this  country.  His  daughter 
official  duties,  in  the  latter  Province,  in  was  married  to  William  Browne,  Esq. 
September,  1720.  He  is  described  as  of  Beverly,  Massachusetts,  and  left  a  son, 
"  polite,  sociable,  well-read,  quick,  intel-  William  Burnet  Browne. — who  married 
ligent,  and  well-disposed  ;"  and  his  con-  a  relative  of  General  Washington's,  and 
duct  certainly  formed  a  strong  contrast  settled  in  Virginia — where  many  of  his 
with  that  of  his  military  predecessors.  He  descendants  now  reside.  He  also  left 
had  not  their  usual  rage  for  making  mo-  two  daughters — one  married  to  a  Mr. 
ney  nor  their  rapacity  for  power.  He  mar-  Hall,  of  Maryland,  and  another  who' 
ried  into  the  Dutch  colonial  family  of  Van  long  lived,  and  died  unmarried  in  New- 
Home,  and  was  transferred  to  the  Gov-  York. 

ernment  of  Massachusetts,  much  to  the         *  They  came  to  America  in  the  same 

regret  of  the  people  of  New-York,  and  ship. 


4  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

Mr.  Alexander  volunteered  his  services  as  Counsel  for 
Peter  Zenger,  the  printer  of  the  "  New- York  Journal," 
whose  trial  is  famous  in  our  colonial  annals.  Zenger 
had  been  arrested  and  imprisoned  for  certain  publications 
in  his  newspaper,  alleged  to  be  libellous,  and  was  brought 
before  Mr.  Justice  DeLancey  upon  a  writ  of  Habeas  Cor- 
pus— when  his  Counsel,  Messrs.  Alexander  and  Smith, 
objected  to  the  legality  of  the  warrant  upon  which  Zen- 
ger had  been  committed,  and  insisted  upon  his  discharge, 
or  admission  to  bail.  They  prevailed  so  far  as  to  obtain 
an  order  for  his  release  upon  giving  bail, — but  the  amount 
was  fixed  at  eight  hundred  pounds,  notwithstanding  the 
prisoner  had  sworn  that  exclusive  of  his  wearing  apparel 
and  the  tools  of  his  trade  he  was  not  worth  forty.  He 
was  unable  or  unwilling  to  procure  the  bail  required,  and 
was  of  course  remanded  to  prison  .  The  grand  jury  re- 
fused to  indict  him ;  but  an  information  ex  officio  was 
exhibited  against  him  by  Bradley,  the  Attorney  Gen- 
eral. The  Counsel  of  Zenger  excepted  to  the  infor- 
mation on  the  ground,  in  the  first  place,  that  the  com- 
missions of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  in  which 
it  had  been  filed,  ran  during  pleasure,  and  not  during 
good  behaviour ;  and  secondly,  that  they  had  been  grant- 
ed by  the  Governor  (Cosby)  without  the  advice  and  con- 
sent of  his  Council.  The  Court  not  only  refused  to 
hear  the  exceptions,*  but  threw  Messrs.  Alexander  and 
Smith  over  the  bar  for  presuming  to  make  them  ;t  nor 

*  The  Chief  Justice  (Morris)  thought  and  an  intimate  friend  of  Mr.   Alexan- 

the  exceptions  well  taken  ;  but  his  opin-  der's,  volunteered  and  took  the  lead  in'his 

ion  was  overruled  by  the  puisne  Judges,  defence.     The  trial  took  place  before  De 

De  Lancey  and  Philipse.  Lancey — now   Chief  Justice — and  Phi- 

t  The  Court  afterwards  assigned  Mr.  lipse,  the  two  Judges  who  had  overruled 
Chambers  as  Counsel  for  Zenger  ;  and  the  exceptions ;  but  Zenger  was  ae- 
on the  trial  Andrew  Hamilton,  an  emi-  quitted  by  the  Jury.  In  an  article  in  the 
nent  member  of  the    Philadelphia  bar  American  edition  of  the  Edinburgh  En- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  c 

were  they  permitted  to  resume  their  practice  until  the 
next  year,  when,  upon  the  death  of  Governor  Cosby, 
Mr.  Alexander  was  recalled  to  his  seat  in  the  Council, 
and  both  he  and  Mr.  Smith  were  readmitted  to  the  bar. 

In  both  stations  the  former  continued  to  maintain 
his  reputation,  as  the  constant  and  fearless  advocate  and 
defender  of  popular  rights  and  constitutional  principles. 
He  stood  alone  in  the  Council  in  opposing  the  election 
of  George  Clark,  as  President  of  that  body — or  acting 
Governor  of  the  Province  in  1736;  and  he  finally  lost 
his  life  by  repairing  to  Albany,  when  suffering  from  se- 
vere illness,  to  oppose  a  ministerial  scheme  oppressive  to 
the  colonists.*  A  letter,  written  not  long  before  his 
death,  is  preserved  in  Mr.  Sedgwick's  Life  of  Governor 
Livingston,  "  as  one  of  the  very  hw  literary  remains  of  a 
man  highly  distinguished  in  his  day,  but  who  has  left 
but  scanty  memorials  of  his  character  and  ability."! 

It  was  not  merely  as  a  lawyer,  a  politician,  or  a 
statesman,  that  Mr.  Alexander  was  distinguished,  but 
also  as  a  man  of  science.  He  was  not  only  the  principal 
author,  with  Dr.  Colden,  of  the  memorable  report  on  the 
Indian  trade  in  defence  of  the  policy  of  Governor  Bur- 
net ;  but,  together  with  Dr.  Franklin,  Francis  Hopkin- 
son,  and  others,  founded  the  "  American  Philosophical 
Society."  He  maintained,  moreover,  a  constant  corres- 
pondence with  Halley,  the  Astronomer  Royal  at  Green- 
wich, and  other  learned  mathematicians  in  different  parts 

cyclopedia — understood  to  have  been  t  Vide  Sedgwick's  Life  of  Living- 
furnished  by  Dr.  J.  W.  Francis  of  New-  ston.  p.  49.  It  is  addressed  to  John 
York — the  learned  contributor  mentions  Taber  Kempe,  afterwards  Attorney  Gen- 
that  the  late  Gouverneur  Morris  observed  eral  of  the  Province  of  New- York,  who, 
toshim,that  "  the  trial  of  Zenger  in  1735  with  the  younger  Smith,  Governor  Liv- 
was  the  germ  of  American  freedom."  ingston,  and  James  Duane,  were  at  the 
*  Vide  Smith's  History  of  New- York,  same  time  students  at  law  in  the  office 
edit.  1830,  vol.  2,  p.  281.  of  Mr.  Alexander. 


5  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

of  Europe,  upon  subjects  relating  to  their  common  pur- 
suits— while  his  skill  as  a  scientific  surveyor  is  attested 
by  the  instructions  given  to  his  subordinates  for  running 
the  line  of  partition  between  East  and  West  Jersey. 

About  ten  years  after  his  removal  to  this  country, 
Mr.  Alexander  intermarried  with  the  widow  of  David 
Provoost,  who — from  his  wealth  acquired  in  that  illicit 
trade  to  which  the  restrictive  system  of  the  mother  coun- 
try afforded  such  strong  temptations  to  the  colonists  as 
to  render  its  pursuit  too  general  to  be  deemed  disreputa- 
ble— had  obtained  the  soubriquet  of  "  Ready-money 
Provoost.5'  After  the  death  of  this  worthy,  his  more  res- 
pectable relict  engaged  in  lawful  commerce  on  her  own 
account,  and  in  her  own  name,  and  so  continued  to  con- 
duct it  after  her  second  marriage.  James  Alexander 
died  in  1756,  leaving  an  ample  provision  for  his  widow, 
and  a  large  but  not  productive  landed  estate  to  be  divided 
between  his  son  and  several  daughters,  who  survived 
him.* 

The  son  had  received  as  good  an  education  as  the 
provincial  schools  afforded,  with  the  additional  advan- 
tage of  private  instruction  from  his  father,  in  those 
branches  of  science  to  which  the  latter  was  particularly 
addicted,  and  for  which  the  former  had  inherited  an  apt- 
ness and  taste. f  He  did  not,  however,  at  first  pursue 
them  practically ;  as  he  entered  upon  the  active  business 
of  life,  first  as  the  clerk,  and  afterwards  as  the  copart- 

*  He  had  acquired  considerable  real         t  In  the  library  of  the  N  Y.  Histori- 

estate  in  the  city,  and  elsewhere  in  the  cal  Society  may  be  found  a  manuscript 

Province  of  New- York,  and  was  one  of  account  of  his  observation  of  the  transit 

the   Proprietaries  of  East  Jersey.     His  of  Venus  in   1769, — after  he  had   suc- 

daughters  were  Mary,  married  to  Peter  ceeded  his  father  as  Surveyor  General  of 

Van  Brugh  Livingston  ;  Elizabeth,  marri-  New  Jersey, 
ed  to  John  Stevens  ;  Catherine,  to  Walter 
Rutherford,  and  Susannah,  to  John  Reid. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  7 

ner  of  his  mother.  In  the  course  of  their  trade  the 
firm  obtained  contracts  for  the  supply  of  the  king's  troops 
with  clothing  and  provisions,  which  led  to  the  junior  part- 
ner's joining  the  commissariat  of  the  army.  The  zeal, 
activity,  and  military  spirit  he  displayed  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties,  in  the  field,  as  well  as  in  the  camp,  at- 
tracted the  notice  of  the  commander-in-chief,  General 
Shirley,  whose  staff  he  was  eventually  invited  to  join  as 
aid-de-camp  and  private  secretary.  In  this  capacity 
he  served  during  the  greater  part  of  the  war,  which, 
although  not  formally  declared  in  Europe  until  1756,  had 
actually  commenced  on  this  continent,  some  years  before.* 
It  was  thus  that  young  Alexander  had  the  early  op- 
portunity of  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  military  affairs, 
during  three  severe  campaigns  in  which  he  served  with 
General  Shirley.  The  following  letter  from  one  of  his 
friends,  who  was  afterwards  a  member  of  the  Congress 
that  declared  independence,  shows  the  footing  upon 
which  the  aid-de-camp  was  supposed  to  stand  with  his 
General. 

Lewis  Morris,  Jr.  to  Major  William  Alexander. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  beg  leave  to  recommend  to  you  Mr. 
John  Duane,  who  is  greatly  desirous  of  entering  the 
army.  He  is  a  smart  active  young  fellow  of  about 
twenty-two  ;  of  good  fortune,  education  and  spirit ;  and 
from  the  opinion  I  entertain  of  him  I  have  no  doubt  but 
he  will  make  a  good  officer.  As  I  have  an  esteem  for 
him  and  his   family — with  which  I  suppose   you   are 

*  In  this  interval,  viz.  in  1754,  Mr-  Smith,  raised   JE600  to  purchase  books 

Alexander,  together  with  Philip  Living-  to  lend  to  the  people,  which  led  to  the 

€ton,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Wm.  Liv-  establishment  of  the  N.  Y.  Society  Li- 

ingston,  John   Marvin  Scott,  and  Wm-  brary. 


g  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

probably  acquainted* — I  shall  be  extremely  obliged  to 
you  if  you  will  be  kind  enough  to  apply  to  his  Ex- 
cellency General  Shirley  on  his  behalf;  and  if  there  is 
a  vacancy,  to  use  your  influence  to  procure  him  a  com- 
mission. If  there  is  none  at  present,  be  pleased  to  ac- 
quaint the  General  that  he  is  willing  to  enter  as  a  volun- 
teer. If  there  is  any  prospect  of  his  promotion,  I  should 
be  glad  to  have  a  line  from  you  soon. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

In  December,  1755,  a  Congress  of  the  Provincial 
Governors  had  assembled  at  New- York,  and  agreed  to 
raise  ten  thousand  men  to  enable  General  Shirley  to  re- 
duce the  posts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  the 
French  forts  on  Lake  Ontario.  But  nothing  was  done 
in  execution  of  this  agreement.  The  plans  of  General 
Shirley  were  consequently  defeated, — and  his  recall  fol- 
lowed. Major  Alexander  accompanied  him  to  England 
in  the  autumn  of  1756,  to  aid  in  the  settlement  of  his 
accounts,  and  to  vindicate  by  his  testimony  the  character 
of  his  commander.  He  was  accordingly  examined  as  a 
witness  on  his  behalf  at  the  bar  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, in  April,  1757,  and  his  evidence  contributed  mate- 
rially to  the  justification  of  his  friend  and  patron.  The 
candour  and  intelligence  of  the  young  American  in  giv- 
ing his  testimony  received  the  marked  approbation  of  the 
House,  and  contributed,  with  the  influence  of  Shirley 
and  the  letters  he  had  brought  with  him  from  other  mili- 
tary men  of  rank  and  family,  to  facilitate  his  introduction 

*  It  would  seem  from  this,  that  the.  Continental  Congress,  the  first  Mayor  of 

person  recommended  was  a  relation, —  the  City  of  New- York,  after  the  Revo- 

probably  a  brother  of  James  Duane,  an  lution  ;  and  the  first  District  Judge  of  the 

early  friend   and   companion  of  young  U.   S.,  for  the  District  of  N.   Y.,  under 

Alexander's,  afterwards  a  member  of  the  the  Federal  Constitution. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  9 

to  some  of  the  most  eminent  public  characters  in  Eng- 
land; while  his  conciliatory  manners,  social  accomplish- 
ments, general  information,  and  enlightened  views  in 
regard  to  the  mutual  interests  of  the  mother-country  and 
her  colonies,  recommended  him  strongly  to  their  esteem 
and  confidence.  Among  the  friends  distinguished  for  rank 
and  station  that  he  made  at  this  period,  was  the  eloquent 
and  ingenious  C  harles  Townshend,  the  versatility  of  whose 
talents  and  temper  has  obtained  a  permanent  celebrity 
in  the  splendid  eulogy  and  quaint  metaphors  of  Edmund 
Burke.*  The  acquaintance  between  them  commenced 
soon  after  the  examination  of  Mr.  Alexander  before  the 
House  of  Commons,  of  which  Mr.  Townshend  wasalead- 
ing  ministerial  member,  and  speedily  ripened  into  a  friend- 
ship which  led  to  a  correspondence,  of  which  it  is  to  be 
regretted  that  the  following  letter  is  all  that  remains.f 

The  Right  Honourable  C.  Townshend  to  William 
Alexander,  Esq. 

"  Adderbury.  near  Bunbury,  Oxfordshire,  Oct.  1st,  1755. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  am  obliged  to  you  for  thinking  of 
me  in  your  leisure,  and  shall  be  happy  to  receive  you 
here  whenever  you  are  so  kind  as  to  favour  us  with  your 
company.  Our  house  is  never  full,  nor  can  it  ever  be 
more  agreeable  to  us  than  when  you  have  an  apartment 
in  it.  If  General  Shirley  or  Mr.  Morris,t  or  both,  can 
persuade  themselves  to  show  us  the  same  mark  of  their 
kindness,  they  will  oblige  us  also.     I  have  only  to  hope 

*  In  his  famous  speech  on  American         t   Vide  Preface. 
Taxation.     In  describing  the  parliamen-         \  Robert  Hunter  Morris,  Chief  Jus- 
tary  eloquence  and  tact  in  debate  of  Mr.     tice  of  New  Jersey  in  1738,  and  Gover- 
Townshend,  Burke,  with  his  usual  fe-     nor  of  Pennsylvania  in  1754. 
licity  of  familiar  allusion,  observed  that 
Mr.  Townshend,  when  he  spoke,  "  took 
the  House  between  wind  and  water." 


10  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

that  you  will  not  only  just  appear,  and  then  leave  us  to 
regret,  but  that  you  will  pass  some  time  with  us. 

"  The  season  is  too  far  advanced  to  expect  any  but 
laborious  shooting ;  but  I  have  hounds  at  command,  and 
will  attend  you  if  you  love  that  sport,  as  far  as  a  sober 
hare-hunt,  at  a  prudent  hour.  If  you  do  not  love  field- 
sports,  there  are  many  fine  seats  around  me  ; — within 
doors,  there  are  books,  and  you  may  depend  upon  hav- 
ing the  uncontrolled  direction  of  your  own  thoughts, 
time,  and  amusements. 

"  Thus  we  live,  and  if  you  like  to  live  thus,  you  can 
nowhere  bestow  your  leisure  where  it  will  be  more  ac- 
ceptable than  upon 

Your  affectionate  and  faithful  servant." 

It  was  from  the  encouragement  of  Mr.  Townshend, 
the  Duke  of  Argyle,  and  the  Earl  of  Bute,  in  addition 
to  the  persuasions  of  General  Shirley,  and  of  his  friends 
Messrs.  Thomas  and  John  Penn,  the  Proprietaries  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  of  Mr.  Morris,  their  Governor  of  that 
Province,  that  Mr.  Alexander  was  induced  to  lay  claim 
to  the  vacant  Earldom  of  Stirling.  His  father,  before 
leaving  Scotland,  was  known  to  be  the  presumptive  heir 
to  the  title,  but  not  to  the  estates  of  Henry  the  then  Earl. 
But  upon  the  death  of  that  nobleman,  which  happened 
in  1737,  James  Alexander,  not  less  from  the  moderation 
of  his  views  than  from  the  circumstances  under  which  he 
had  left  his  native  country,  made  no  claim  to  the  succes- 
sion. The  son,  however,  had  derived  from  his  father 
and  mother  together,  a  considerable  inheritance,  and  had 
acquired  by  marriage*  a  fortune,  sufficient  in  those  days 

*  Before  he  visited  England,  he  had     Philip  Livingston,  the  proprietor  of  the 
married   Sarah,  the  eldest  daughter  of    manor  of  that  name. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  j  £ 

for  the  support  of  a  Scotch  Earldom  ;  and  from  his  age, 
habits,  and  associates,  the  rank  and  title  of  a  nobleman 
had  greater  attractions  for  him,  than  for  his  wiser  and 
more  philosophic  father. 

He  lost  no  time,  therefore,  after  he  reached  Great 
Britain,  in  consulting  the  most  eminent  Counsel  in  Lon- 
don and  Edinburgh  upon  the  subject,  and  after  a  full  in- 
vestigation of  his  case,  he  obtained  the  opinions  of  Mr. 
Wedderburn,  in  London,  and  of  Messrs.  Ferguson,  Prin- 
gle,  and  Johnston,  leading  advocates  in  Edinburgh,  in 
favour  of  his  claim.  Wedderburn,  as  is  well  known, 
commenced  his  professional  career  in  the  Scottish  capi- 
tal— but  removed  to  the  metropolis  of  the  empire  in  con- 
sequence of  a  difficulty  with  the  Scotch  Judges.  He 
soon  attained  celebrity  and  fortune  in  this  new  and  more 
elevated  sphere — entered  parliament  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Earl  of  Bute,  and  during  the  administration  of 
Lord  North — became  in  succession  Solicitor  and  Attor- 
ney General — and  subsequently  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Common  Pleas,  and  Chancellor.  On  his  promotion  to 
the  bench  he  was  raised  to  the  peerage  under  the  title 
of  Baron  Loughborough,  and,  on  his  retirement,  gained 
another  step  in  it,  as  Earl  of  Rosslyn.  This  distin- 
guished person  wastthe  principal  legal  adviser,  and  be- 
came the  personal  and  confidential  friend  of  Mr.  Alex- 
ander. It  was  by  his  advice  that  the  latter  repaired  to 
Edinburgh,  in  the  summer  of  1757,  furnished  with  the 
necessary  instructions,  and  with  letters  of  introduction  to 
the  Counsel  there,  and  to  Mr.  Andrew  Stuart,  an  eminent 
writer,  or  solicitor.  He  remained  in  Scotland  until  the 
next  year,  and  having,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Stuart, 
collected  the  evidence  requisite  to  substantiate  his  claim, 
he  instituted  the  proper  legal  proceeding  to  establish  it. 


12  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

During  his  residence  in  Scotland,  Mr.  Alexander  formed 
many  valuable  acquaintances  in  that  kingdom,  and  found 
there  an  old  friend  and  companion  in  arms,  in  Captain 
Staats  L.  Morris,  a  native  of  New- York,  who  had  en- 
tered the  British  army  early  in  life,*  and  was  now  the 
husband  of  the  Duchess  dowager  of  Gordon.  From  the 
letters  which  follow,  Mr.  Alexander  appears  to  have 
been  domesticated  at  Gordon  Castle  during  a  part  of 
the  time  he  remained  in  Scotland. 

Captain  Staats  L.  Morris  to  William  Alexander,  Esq. 

"  Gordon  Castle,  January  18th,  1758. 

"  Dear  Alexander, — I  have  been  honoured  with 
two  letters  from  you  since  we  parted — one  from  Edin- 
burgh, the  other  from  Newcastle — both  which  gave  me 
great  satisfaction.  The  day  I  left  you,  I  got  to  Haddo 
House,  and  staid  with  Lord  Aberdeen  till  next  day  after 
dinner.  Then  went  to  Aberdourf  and  staid  all  night,  and 
the  next  day  got  here.  We  were  as  merry  as  we  could 
be  without  our  agreeable  friend  Alexander.  You  make 
the  Duchess  and  myself  extremely  happy  by  the  kind  ex- 
pressions you  were  pleased  to  make  in  your  letters.  I 
need  not  repeat  my  regard  and  friendship  towards  you — 
and  as  for  my  Duchess,  she  bids  me  tell  you  she  values 
your  friendship,  and  as  far  as  she  can  extend  hers,  you 
have  it,  and  desires  to  be  remembered  to  you  in  the 
kindest  manner. 

"  I  hope  this  will  find  you  safe  iu  London,  and  well 
rested  after  your  journey.  I  cannot  flatter  myself  to 
hear  often  from  you,  as  1  know  your  business  will  em- 

*  He  had  served  in  America  under     of  a  General  Officer.     He  was  the  elder 
Shirley,  and  rose  afterwards  to  the  rank     brother  of  Gouverneur  Morris. 

t  A  seat  of  the  Earl  of  Morton. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  13 

ploy  most  of  your  time  ;  but  I  hope  you  will  indulge 
me  with  a  line  now  and  then,  to  let  me  know  how  Mor- 
ris, Penn*  and  you  go  on.  I  have  leave  from  my  regi- 
ment to  leave  this,  if  1  shall  think  proper,  the  middle  of 
this  month  ;  but  I  fancy  I  shall  not  get  away  before  the 
middle  of  March,  when  I  hope  to  have  every  thing  set- 
tled to  my  satisfaction  here. — You  may  keep  Lord 
George  Beauclerc's  order,t  for  1  sent  one  to  the  Major 
before  you  left  me,  and  I  have  got  a  spare  one  from 
Barclay.  Let  me  know  how  you  are  with  regard  to 
your  health.  I  was  hunting  to-day,  and  we  had  the 
finest  chase  you  ever  saw.  The  Duke  and  all  the  chil- 
dren desire  to  be  remembered  to  you  ;  and  you  have  all 
the  good  wishes  in  their  power  to  give.  My  love  to  my 
dear  Morris, — tell  him  I  should  be  happy  in  the  acquaint- 
ance of  his  new  relations. 

"  1  am,  &c." 

The  Duchess  of  GordonX  to  the  Same. 

"  Gordon  Castle,  February  3d,  1758. 

"  Sir, — Your  friend  Morris  intended  to  have  wrote 
you  this  evening ;  but,  being  prevented  by  some  busi- 
ness, desired  me  to  make  his  excuse  to  you,  and  will 
write  you  by  next  post. 

"I  am  glad  to  hear  you  have  got  safe  to  London, 
where   I   hope  you  are  agreeably  entertained. — We  all 

*  Robert  Hunter    Morris   and    John  service  in  Scotland,  of  which  Mr.  Alex- 

Penn,  the  latter  of  whom  was  Governor  ander's  interest  in  military  affairs  had 

of  Pennsylvania  in   1763,  and  again  in  induced  him  to  request  a  copy. 
1773.      His  brother  Richard  had   also         +  This  lady  afterwards  accompanied 

been  Governor  of  the  same    Province,  her  husband  on  a  visit  to  his  relations  in 

They  were  descendants  of  William  Penn,  America,  and  was  long  remembered  in 

and  had   succeeded   to  his   proprietary  New- York   for    her   masculine    habits, 

rights  in  the  Province.  blunt  manners,  frank  conversation,  and 

t  An  order  relating  to  the  recruiting  good  heart. 


]4  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

regret  much  the  loss  of  your  good  company  at  this  place, 
and  think  ourselves  much  obliged  by  your  kind  remem- 
brance of  us.  The  boat  was  launched  on  the  Spy  on 
the  king  of  Prussia's  birth-day,  and  sailed  round  by  sea 
to  Loch  Spyrie,  where  she  now  rides  at  anchor.  All 
your  friends  here  join  in  compliments  to  you. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  following,  of  a  different  character,  was  from  an 
old  family  friend,  who  had  been  in  America. 

Patrick  Gmme,  Esq.  to  the  Same. 

"  Perth,  February  3d,  1758. 

"  Dear  Sir, — When  1  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  here,  we  promised  to  write  to  one  another ;  and 
having  been  some  time  in  expectation  of  hearing  from 
you  of  your  safe  arrival  in  London,  but  not  being  fa- 
voured with  that,  I  would  delay  writing  no  longer. 

"  The  great  esteem  1  always  had  for  your  father,  and 
the  mutual  friendship  that  ever  subsisted  between  us, 
makes  me  more  anxious  to  hear  of  your  good  health  and 
prosperity  than  god-fathers  commonly  are,  of  which  I 
hope  you  will  acquaint  me  on  receipt  of  this  :  and  pray 
advise  me  if  my  very  good  friend  and  old  acquaintance 
Governor  Hamilton*  be  come  to  London — to  whom,  if 
he  be,  make  my  hearty  compliments,  and  let  me  know 
how  he  is. — I  should  be  glad,  also,  if  you  would  let  me 
into  the  Pennsylvania  affairs  that  are  carrying  on  in  Lon- 
don ;  if  Isaac  Norris  and  Benjamin  Franklin,  Mr.  Penn's 
opponents,  be  in  London,  and  what  steps  they  are  taking. 
I  hope  Mr.  Penn,  with  his  two  late  Governors,!  will  be 

*  Andrew    Hamilton,    Deputy    Go-         t  Hamilton  and  Morris, 
vernor   of   Pennsylvania   in  1748,  and 
President  of  the  Province  in  1771. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  15 

able  to  overset  all  their  measures.  My  acquaintance 
with  your  friend  Governor  Morris  being  but  small,  and 
many  years  ago,  I  am  afraid  he  may  have  forgot  me. 
However,  please  to  make  my  humble  compliments  to 
him.  I  was  much  better  acquainted  with  his  father.  I 
hope  he  and  Governor  Hamilton  will  support  you,  with 
Mr.  Penn,  in  the  memorandum  you  were  so  kind  as  to 
take  in  your  pocket-book,  for  a  patent  in  favour  of  my 
brother  in  Philadelphia,  and  my  son  John.  I  hope  my 
brother's  conduct  in  his  office  has  been  such  that  the 
honourable  family  never  mean  to  remove  him — at  least, 
that  this  proposal  of  mine  will  be  no  prejudice  to  him. 
I  desire,  in  a  special  manner,  that  you  will  make  my 
humble  duty  and  compliments  to  Mr.  Penn.  It  gave 
me  real  concern  to  hear  of  the  death  of  his  son  some 
months  ago.  I  shall  be  glad  to  know  how  he  and  his 
family  are,  and  what  children  he  has  alive. 

"  When  you  write  to  New-York,  make  my  compli- 
ments to  your  mother  in  the  best  manner,  who,  I  am 
certain,  will  remember  me  well.  I  shall  be  glad  to  know 
what  steps  you  took  in  Edinburgh  towards  your  title. 
If  in  this  country  I  can  be  of  any  service  to  you,  I  ex- 
pect you  will  freely  command  me,  having  it  truly  at 
heart  to  serve  you. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  answer  to  the  above  letter  is  inserted  in  this 
place,  though  out  of  the  order  of  its  date,  as  in  comply- 
ing with  the  request  of  his  correspondent,  contained  in 
the  last  paragraph,  Mr.  Alexander  mentions  the  pro- 
gress he  had  made  in  the  affair  which  carried  him  to 
Scotland. 


16  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

William  Alexander,  Esq.  to  Patrick  Grceme,  Esq. 

"  New  Bond  Street,  April  24th,  1758. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  your 
letter  of  the  23d  of  February,  soon  after  the  date  of  it. 
I  should  long  before  have  wrote  to  you  in  return,  but  be- 
ing in  daily  expectation  of  seeing  Governor  Hamilton,  I 
put  it  off  from  day  to  day  until  I  could  have  that  oppor- 
tunity :  nothing  else  should  have  made  me  so  long  ne- 
glect cultivating  a  correspondence  which  1  much  value. 
The  mutual  friendship  which  subsisted  between  yourself 
and  my  father,  and  the  worthy  character  you  have  al- 
ways sustained,  are  sufficient  to  make  that  correspond- 
ence more  than  agreeable  to  me. 

"  I  heartily  wish  it  had  been  in  my  power  to  have 
effected  the  matter  we  conversed  about  for  your  son 
John.  Soon  after  my  arrival  from  Scotland,  by  lights  I 
drew  from  Governor  Morris  and  Mr.  Penn,  I  judged  the 
thing  impracticable,  and  since  seeing  Governor  Hamil- 
ton, I  am  confirmed  in  that  opinion.  He  tells  me  that 
the  reversion  of  the  office  has  for  many  years  been  en- 
gaged. However,  there  is  not  the  least  complaint 
against  your  brother's  conduct  in  office,  and  I  suppose 
he  will  hold  it  for  life.  Mr.  Hamilton  will  write  to  you 
by  this  post  on  the  subject. 

"As  to  the  affairs  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Assembly 
have,  for  many  years,  been  demanding  unreasonable  con- 
cessions from  the  Proprietaries.  They,  on  the  other 
hand,  have  as  constantly  refused  them.  This,  in  its 
course,  has  been  worked  up  to  a  state  of  feeling  that  has 
produced  anarchy,  confusion,  and  great  mischiefs  in  the 
Province.     The  A  ssembly,  on  their  part,  have  sent  home* 

*  It  can  scarcely  be  necessary  to  ap-     the  Revolution,  in  a  sense  which  would 
prise  the  reader,  that  this  word  "  home  "     now  be  rendered  abroad. 
is  here  used  according  to  custom  before 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  17 

Mr.  Franklin,*  to  represent  what  they  call  their  griev- 
ances. He  has  hitherto  made  no  application  to  the 
Government ;  but  has  delivered  the  "  heads "  to  Mr. 
Penn,  who  has  laid  the  matter  before  the  Solicitor  and 
Attorney  General  for  their  opinion,  whether  consistently 
with  the  safety  of  his  estate,  with  the  power  given  him 
by  the  Crown,  and  the  nature  of  the  English  Govern- 
ment, he  can  comply  with  their  demands — which,  I  sup- 
pose, will  be  answered  in  the  negative — and  that  Mr. 
Franklin's  next  step  will  be  to  apply  to  the  King  in 
Council. — While  the  Proprietaries  had  men  of  sense  and 
virtue  for  their  Governors,  and  while  Franklin  was  at  the 
head  of  the  Assembly,  they  were  kept  within  bounds  ; 
but  since  they  have  had  a  Governor,  who  is  worse  than 
a  fool,f  and  since  Franklin  has  been  on  this  side  of  the 
water,  they  are  grown  frantic.  They  have  imprisoned 
a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Philadelphia — most  of 
them  without  any  cause  ;  though  their  pretence  is  inde- 
cent behaviour — laughing  in  their  presence. 

"  As  to  the  affair  of  my  title  in  Scotland,  it  has  been 
retarded  for  want  of  some  written  evidence  of  a  matter 
of  which  before  we  had  only  traditional  proof.  By  my 
last  letters  from  Mr.  Stuart,  my  Doer%  at  Edinburgh,  I 
am  informed  that  he  had  procured  such  corroborating  evi- 
dence as  is  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  venture  the  ser- 
vice^ and  by  the  help  of  papers  in  the  Duke  of  Argyle's 
charter-room — of  which  I  have  now  the  use — all  difficul- 
ties, I  hope,  will  be  put  an  end  to.     Mr.  Stuart  has  taken 

*  Mr.    Benjamin — afterwards  Dr. —  §  A  proceeding  in  the  Scotch  law  in 

Franklin.  the  nature  of  an  Inquisition,  held  on  the 

t  William  Denny,  Lieut.    Governor  death  of  an  ancestor,  to  ascertain  by  the 

from  1756  to  1759.  verdict  of  a  jury  the  person  entitled  to 

t  Scotice  for  agent  or   man  of  busi-  the  succession  as  next  heir. 


jg  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

out  the  brieves  for  the  process,  and  the  affair  will,  I  be- 
lieve, be  soon  finished. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  proceeding  above  referred  to,  partook,  however, 
of  the  delays  for  which  the  law  is  proverbial,  and  was 
not  terminated  in  less  than  a  year.  The  following  let- 
ters, written  in  the  interval,  are  inserted  from  their 
reference  to  a  document  which  was  deemed  important 
in  the  settlement  of  the  Northeastern  boundary  between 
the  United  States  and  the  British  possessions,  by  the 
Ashburton  treaty. 

The  Same  to  Mr.  Andrew  Stuart* 

"London,  November,  1758. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  hope  you  will  think  I  offer  a  very 
good  excuse  for  not  acknowledging  your  favour  of  the 
5th  of  October  sooner,  when  I  tell  you  that  about  the 
time  it  came  to  hand,  I  was  hunting  in  Oxfordshire, 
and  being  in  full  chase  over  a  slippery  piece  of  ground, 
my  horse's  heels  flew  up,  and  of  course  down  came  your 
humble  servant ;  the  consequence  of  which  was  a  vio- 
lent contusion  on  my  right  shoulder,!  and  a  total  disa- 

*  This  gentleman  seems  to  have  en-  "  Tell  Hume  he  is  so  much  worshipped 
joyed  a  station  in  the  society  of  Edin-  here,  that  he  must  be  void  of  all  passions 
burgh,  above  that  usually  conceded  to  if  he  does  not  immediately  take  post  for 
men  of  his  profession,  and  which  must  Paris.  In  most  houses  where  I  am  ac- 
probably  have  been  acquired  by  his  lit-  quainted  here,  one  of  the  first  questions 
erary  and  social  accomplishments.  In  is,  '  Do  you  know  Monsieur  Hume  whom 
a  letter  of  his  to  Sir  William  Johnstone,  we  all  admire  so  much  V  I  dined  yes- 
dated  from  Paris  in  December,  1762,  and  terday  at  Helvetius's,  where  this  same 
of  which  an  extract  is  given  in  an  arti-  Monsieur  Hume  interrupted  our  conver- 
cle  entitled  "  Passages  in  the  Life  of  Da-  sation  very  much." 
vid  Hume,"  in  a  late  number  of  the  Dub-  t  This  accident  happened  during  a 
lin   University   Magazine,   he    says  : —  visit  to  Charles  Townshend. 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  jg 

bilitj  of  writing  until  within  these  few  days.  It  is  now 
better  ;  and  one  of  its  first  employments  is  to  give  evi- 
dence of  my  gratitude  for  the  friendship  you  have  shown 
in  the  prosecution  of  the  business  under  your  care. 
The  reasons  you  give  for  not  bringing  on  the  service,  are 
quite  satisfactory,  and  are  the  highest  evidence  to  me  of 
your  regard  for  my  real  interest. 

"  There  is  no  late  news  from  America,  but  I  am  in 
daily  expectation  of  hearing  of  the  reduction  of  Fort  Du 
Quesne.  If  any  thing  of  importance  occurs,  I  shall  in- 
form you. 

"  I  some  time  since  instructed  Mr.  Dagge*  to  write  to 
you  for  a  copy  from  the  records  of  the  Laigh  Parliament 
House,  of  a  grant  from  James  VI.  to  Sir  William  Alex- 
ander, for  the  country  of  Nova  Scotia,  it  being  wanted 
in  some  measures  the  ministry  are  about  to  take  with 
respect  to  the  boundaries  of  that  Province  ;  but  I  find 
Mr.  Dagge,  not  rightly  understanding  me,  has  neglected 
mentioning  it  to  you.  It  is  now  much  wanted  ;  and  I 
must  therefore  desire  you  will,  as  soon  as  possible,  send 
me  a  fair  copy  of  it,  properly  authenticated,  according 
to  the  custom  of  Scotland. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Mr.  Andrew  Stuart  to  William  Alexander,  Esq. 

"  Edinburgh,  5th  December,  1758. 

"  Dear  Sir, — By  the  last  and  preceding  posts  1  am 
favoured  with  two  letters  from  you,  and  in  obedience  to 
the  first  of  these,  I  went  to  the  Laigh  Parliament  House 
to  search  among  the  records  for  the  original  grant  of 
Nova  Scotia,  which  I  found,  and  expect  to  be  able  to 

*  His  Solicitor  in  London. 


20  THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING. 

send  you  by  the  next  post.  There  is  a  lad  close  at 
work  copying  it  from  the  record,  but  the  charter  being 
very  long,  it  could  not  possibly  be  got  ready  to-night. 

"  I  do  not  purpose  at  this  time  to  take  up  your  time 
with  any  further  particulars  about  your  own  affairs,  as 
in  a  post  or  two  I  am  to  send  you  a  state  of  the  proof, 
such  as  we  are  to  lay  before  the  jury,  and  Mr.  Johnston's 
opinion  thereon, — in  whose  hands  the  papers  have  been 
for  some  time  past.  1  shall  only  tell  you  at  present,  that, 
now  our  evidence  is  collected,  Mr.  Johnston  has  a  fa- 
vourable opinion  of  it,  and  thinks  we  have,  as  far  as 
could  well  be  expected  in  so  remote  a  matter,  sufficient 
to  satisfy  a  jury.  I  have  been  bespeaking  Lord  Dun- 
donald  and  some  others  of  your  acquaintance  to  be  on 
the  jury  ;  and  intend  to  write  to  Mr.  Murray,  of  Aber- 
cairny,  to  come  to  town  on  the  occasion,  who,  I  imagine, 
will  not  decline  this  piece  of  trouble.  We  would  wish 
to  have  the  jury  composed  of  the  most  creditable  people. 

"  Captain  Morris  came  to  town  late  on  Saturday 
night  from  Dunkeld,  and  returned  home  early  yesterday 
morning  alongst*  with  the  young  Duke  of  Gordon  and  his 
brother,  who  came  to  town  early  on  Sunday  night.  I 
had  not  an  opportunity  of  seeing  Captain  Morris  this  last 
time  he  was  in  town,  but  have  this  night  forwarded  your 
letter  to  him  at  Dunkeld,  where  he  now  is.  »  I  had  called 
on  him  on  Sunday  to  pay  my  respects  ; — he  happened 
not  to  be  at  home,  and  the  Duke  of  Gordon  and  his 
brother  had  not  yet  come  to  town ;  the  people  of  the 
house  imagined  he  was  to  stay  in  town  some  days,  and 
when  I  called  next  morning,  was  so  unlucky  as  to  miss 
him. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

*  According  to  the  Scotch  orthogra-     oms  occur — as  will  be  observed — in  Mr. 
phy.  Many  Scottish  expressions  and  idi-     Stuart's  letters. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  21 

The  service  was  not  completed  until  the  spring  of 
1759,  when  the  favourable  result  of  the  proceeding 
was  immediately  communicated  to  Mr.  Alexander  by 
his  Solicitor. 


The  Same  to  the  Same, 

"  Edinburgh,  24th  March,  1759. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Allow  me  to  wish  you  joy  upon  your 
affairs  here  being  brought  to  a  happy  period.  I  had  re- 
solved never  to  write  to  you  until  the  service  was  over. 
To  tell  you  what  rubs  we  met  with,  that  occasioned  the 
delay,  would  give  you  very  little  entertainment ;  all  I 
can  propose  to  do  to-night,  at  this  late  hour,  is  to  let  you 
know  that  every  thing  has  ended  to  our  wishes,  and  that 
you  will  have  a  particular  account  of  the  whole  from  me 
by  next  post,  with  the  memorials  and  answers  rela- 
ting to  it.  We  had  a  most  creditable  jury — of  the  best 
gentlemen  in  town,  who,  with  one  voice,  have  found  you 
nearest  male-heir  to  the  last  deceased  Earl  of  Stirling. 
I  must  break  off  to  give  this  letter  a  chance  of  catching 
the  post. 

'<  I  am,  &c." 

The  Same  to  the  Same. 

•'  Edinburgh,  28th  March,  1759. 

"  Dear  Sir, — With  this  you  will  receive  a  packet  of 
papers  which  I  intended  to  have  sent  by  last  post,  but 
they  could  not  all  be  got  ready.  The  return  of  your 
service  from  the  Chancery  is  not  yet  sent  me ;  but  the 
people  at  the  office  have  promised  to  send  it  to  me  this 
night,  so  that  it  may  be  forwarded  to  you  with  this. 

"  The  papers  now  sent  you,  are  (No.  1)  a  memo- 


22  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

rial*  laid  before  Mr.  Ferguson  in  December  last ;  (No.  2) 
his  answerf  to  it ;  (No.  3)  a  new  memorial  made  up  in 
the  month  of  March,  after  the  evidence  was  completed, 
— and  (No.  4)  answers  by  Mr.  Ferguson,  Mr.  Solicitor 
Pringle,J  and  Mr.  Johnston  to  this  new  memorial.  A 
copy  of  the  depositions  was  formerly  sent  you,  so  that, 
from  those  and  the  papers  now  sent,  you  will  have  a 
pretty  good  view  of  the  whole  case.  That  it  may  be 
better  understood,  I  likewise  send  you  a  tree  showing 
the  several  branches  of  the  family.  We  had  several 
copies  of  this  tree  made  out  to  put  into  the  hands  of  the 
jury,  that  they  might  more  readily  apprehend  the  con- 
nection ;  and,  to  give  more  force  to  the  evidence,  the 
witnesses  related  to  the  family  are  distinguished  in  the 
tree,  to  point  out  the  nearness  of  their  own  relation, 
whereby  they  would  have  access  to  know  or  learn  the 
facts  they  depose  to. 

"  From  the  answers  (No.  4)  to  the  first  memorial, 
you  will  observe  there  was  a  difference  about  the  suffi- 
ciency of  our  proof  in  the  remote  parts  of  our  propin- 
quity, viz.,  John  Alexander's  relation  to  the  (first)  Earl 
of  Stirling.  This  made  us  defer  the  service,  and  make 
many  searches  for  some  written  evidence  on  that  point. 
We  found  something  to  increase  the  probability,  but  not 
absolutely  conclusive.  In  Mr.  Ferguson's  answers,  he 
suggested  that  it  would  be  of  use  to  have  some  evidence 
of  the  common  fame  of  the  country,  about  your  branch 
being  relations  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling,  from  witnesses 
that  were  in  no  ways  related  to  the  family.  We  had 
the  happiness  to  succeed  in  this,  having  examined  two 
very  old  men,  who  remembered  the  common  fame  in  the 
country  a  great  many  years  back. 

*  Or  statement  of  the  case.  \  Afterwards  raised   to  the  bench  bjr 

t  His  opinion  on  the  case  submitted.      the  title  of  Lord  Alemoor. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  23 

"  Having  exhausted  the  searches  of  the  records,  and 
amongst  the  papers  of  the  family  of  Ar^yle,  of  Mr. 
Abercrombie  of  Tulliebody,  and  of  every  other  place 
where  papers  relating  to  the  family  of  Stirling  could  be 
expected  to  be  found,  and  having  examined  all  the  wit- 
nesses we  could  hear  of,  it  was  in  vain  to  delay  the  ser- 
vice any  longer.  I  therefore  wrote  for  Mr.  Porteous* 
and  Mr.  Thomsonf  to  come  to  town,  to  be  present  at 
the  service.  When  they  came,  there  was  a  necessity  of 
having  the  service  delayed  a  few  days,  by  reason  that 
some  of  our  jury  could  not  attend,  and  I  was  resolved 
that  we  should  not  have  the  matter  brought  before  any 
jury  but  one  composed  of  the  most  creditable  gentlemen 
in  the  country.  An  improper  choice  of  a  jury  would 
have  given  a  bad  aspect  to  the  whole.  I  found  that 
several  gentlemen  of  the  jury  were  desirous  that  the 
whole  evidence  should  be  previously  considered  by  the 
most  eminent  Counsel  here,  and  their  opinion  taken  in 
writing  whether  it  was  sufficient  to  entitle  you  to  be 
served  heir-male.  Accordingly,  I  made  up  the  memo- 
rial No.  3  upon  the  whole  proof,  and  after  being  fre- 
quently with  Mr.  Ferguson,  Mr.  Pringle,  and  Mr.  John- 
ston on  the  subject,  they  gave  their  joint  opinion, 
whereof  a  copy  is  now  sent  you.  Several  copies  of  the 
memorial  No.  3  were  made  out  and  put  into  the  hands  of 
the  jury,  and  the  opinion  of  the  Counsel  was  shown  to 

*  The  Rev.  James  Porteous,  Minister  Fro™  the  character  of  the  son,  as  exhib- 

of  Monyvard,  in  Perthshire,  who  mar-  ited  in  his  letters  and  those  of  Mr.  Stu- 

ried  into  the  family  of  Alexander.     He  art,  he   seems    to   have   borne   a   much 

was  the  son  of  Captain  John  Porteous,  stronger  resemblance  to  the  Reuben  But- 

commander  of  the  municipal   guard  of  ler  of  ihe  Novel,  than  to  his  own  father. 

Edinburgh,  whose   lynching  by  the  mob  t   Writer  in  Crief,  near  Stirling,  who 

of  that  city  is  used  with  so  much  effect  had   been  employed  by  Mr.   Stuart   in 

by  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  his  beautiful  fie-  making  searches  in  the  records  of  that 

tion  of  the  "  Heart  of  Mid    Lothian."  city. 


24  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

most  of  them.  These  greatly  facilitated  the  service  ; 
and  the  jury  were  unanimous  in  finding  you  the  nearest 
male-heir  to  the  last  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Your  relation  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling  being  now 
established,  the  next  thing  to  be  considered,  is,  how  far 
it  entitles  you  to  the  peerage  ?  This,  I  fancy,  must  be 
gone  about  with  great  deliberation,  and  after  taking  the 
opinions  of  the  most  eminent  Counsel  in  England  and 
Scotland.  I  am  told  there  would  be  little  doubt  that  in 
Scotland,  a  patent  not  confined  to  the  heirs-male  of  the 
body,  would  go  to  the  heirs  collateral,  but  that  the  case 
is  otherwise  in  England.  One  w?ould  reasonably  think 
that  the  laws  and  customs  of  Scotland  would  regulate 
questions  relating  to  Scotch  peerages,  excepting  so  far 
as  altered,  either  by  the  Articles  of  Union,  or  by  express 
Act  of  Parliament ;  and  as  the  rights  of  heirs-male  col- 
lateral, and  the  interpretation  of  patents,  is  not  affected 
either  by  the  one  or  the  other,  the  laws  of  Scotland 
should  take  place  in  this  case.* 

"  If  you  intend  to  lay  claim  to  the  peerage  in  conse- 
quence of  the  service,  I  am  humbly  of  opinion  that  the 
most  proper  method  will  be  to  have  the  opinion  here  of 
the  most  eminent  Counsel,  upon  the  laws  and  custom  of 
Scotland  with  regard  to  peerages  granted  to  heirs-male 
general,  in  virtue  of  patents  similar  to  the  Earl  of 
Stirling's.      I  have  already  learnt  some  instances  that 

*  It  had  appeared  from  the  proofs  be-  from  the  first  Earl.  The  question  there- 
fore the  jury  of  service,  that  Mr.  Aiex-  fore  now  arising  was,  whether,  since  the 
ander  was  lineally  descended  from  an  union,  the  laws  of  Scotland  had  given 
uncle  of  the  first  Earl  of  Stirling.  The  place  to  the  law  of  England  in  regard  to 
direct  male  line  of  the  latter  had  failed  the  descent  of  Scottish  peerages.  Lord 
upon  the  death  of  his  great-grandson,  Thurlow  was  the  only  great  lawyer  of 
Henry  Earl  of  Stirling,  in  1737,  without  the  day  who  contended  that  it  had.  But 
leaving  an  heir-male  of  his  body,  or  any  not  until  many  years  afterwards, 
collateral  male  heir  lineally  descended 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  25 

happened  before  the  union  of  the  kingdoms,  and  upon 
further  inquiry  expect  to  get  many  more.  I  shall  not 
take  any  steps  towards  advising  Counsel  on  this  point, 
until  receiving  your  orders,  being  uncertain  whether  you 
intend  to  lay  claim  to  the  peerage  upon  the  general 
words  of  the  patent. 

"  Just  now  the  return  of  your  service  is  sent  me  from 
the  Chancery, — which  you  will  receive  inclosed.  By  it 
you  will  see  who  the  gentlemen  were  that  have  been  so 
good  as  to  favour  me  with  their  attendance  on  this  occa- 
sion. They  are  all  very  well  known  to  Mr.  Wedder- 
burn,  to  whom  you  will  please  to  show  this  letter,  and 
the  papers  now  sent.  He  will  be  able  to  judge  what 
are  the  proper  steps  to  be  taken. 

"  I  cannot  conclude  this  letter  without  telling  you 
how  much  we  have  been  obliged  to  Mr.  Porteous,  the 
minister  of  Monyvard.  He  has  grudged  no  trouble  or 
time  in  this  affair — came  to  town,  and  staid  several  days 
on  purpose.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  I  prevailed  on 
him  to  let  his  charges  to  town  be  paid  by  Mr.  Thomson, 
and  he  would  not  accept  of  any  thing  further  from  me 
to  indemnity  his  charges  and  consumpt  of  time.  He 
was  excessively  happy  at  having  every  thing  brought  to 
so  good  a  bearing.  I  send  you  inclosed  a  copy  of  the 
account  I  have  paid  to  Thomson,  the  writer  at  Crief :  it 
is  as  moderate  as  could  be  stated  in  proportion  to  the 
trouble  I  was  obliged  to  give  him.  There  has  been  vari- 
ous other  articles  of  necessary  expense  incurred  upon 
this  occasion  ;  but  I  am  sure  there  are  none  that  could 
have  been  avoided  in  a  matter  so  diffused,  and  that  re- 
quired such  investigation.  I  shall  not  trouble  you  with 
further  particulars  this  night.  If  there  is  any  thing  in 
the   proofs  or  procedure  that  you  think  requires  to  be 


26  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

further  explained,  I  beg  you  will  acquaint  me  ;  and  the 
reason  of  the  infrequency  of  my  letters  no  longer  sub- 
sists, you  will  find  me  a  more  regular  correspondent  than 
heretofore. 

" 1  am,  &c." 


CHAPTER    II. 


1759-1761. 


The  object  of  Mr.  Alexander  in  procuring  himself 
to  be  judicially  recognized  as  the  heir-male  of  the  de- 
ceased Earl  of  Stirling,  was  by  no  means  limited  to  the 
attainment  of  the  peerage.  His  main  purpose  was  to 
obtain  the  acknowledgment  and  possession  of  certain 
territorial  rights  of  property  and  jurisdiction  in  America, 
which  had  been  granted  to  his  ancestors,  and  which  he 
conceived  to  have  devolved  on  him  with  the  title.  He 
did  not,  however,  assume  the  latter  until  it  had  been  con- 
ferred on  him  by  his  correspondents,  and  he  had  received 
the  opinion  of  Mr.  Wedderburn  and  his  Scottish  Counsel 
that  his  case  was  governed  by  the  laws  and  customs  of 
Scotland  antecedent  to  the  Union.  He  seems,  at  this 
period,  to  have  contemplated  purchasing  an  estate  in  that 
kingdom,  and  after  a  short  visit  to  America,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  settling  his  affairs,  to  have  established  himself 
permanently  in  Great  Britain.  But  the  sequel  will  ex- 
plain the  reasons  which  determined  him  to  abandon  that 
intention. 

The  Rev.  James  Porteous  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Monyvard,  April  21st,  1759. 

"  My  Lord, — I  have  been  this  week  in  Stirling,  and 
took  a  particular  inspection  of  the  house  of  the  first  Earl 
of  Stirling,  which  now  belongs  to  the  Duke  of  Argyle — 


28  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

whereof  he  makes  nothing,  and  never  visits  it.  It  is  a 
fine  situation,  and  has  a  grand  prospect  over  the  most 
beautiful  country  and  river  in  the  kingdom.  A  perfect 
trifle  would  furnish  therein  a  small  lodging,  which  would 
answer  your  purpose,  until  you  proposed  to  reside  with 
us  in  Perthshire  ;  and  if  you  intended  a  grand  house, 
the  materials  would  save  two  thousand  pounds.  I  am 
persuaded  his  Grace  would  sell  it  for  a  trifle. 

"  There  are  two  small  estates,  viz.,  Newton,  and 
Pleam,  in  the  County  of  Stirling,  worth  eight  hundred 
pounds  sterling  per  annum.  Land  is  still  improving 
with  us,  and  we  generally  can  lose  nothing  if  we  buy  at 
twenty-five  years  purchase.  I  presume  to  give  you 
these  hints  as  you  go  soon  to  America.  You  are  happily 
provided  with  Mr.  Stuart  as  a  Doer  in  Edinburgh ;  and 
if  you  have  any  business  at  Stirling  you  may  trust  Wil- 
liam Danskin,  a  merchant  there — not  so  much  because 
he  is  married  to  a  distant  relation  of  ours,  as  because  of 
his  integrity,  skill,  and  friendly  disposition.  Wishing 
you  a  safe  voyage,  and  happy  return, 

"  I  am,  &c." 

William  Trumbull,  Esq.  to  the  Same. 

"  Easthampstead  Park,  July  15th,  1759. 

"My  Lord, — If  your  Lordship  has  not  already  ap- 
pointed all  your  Chaplains,  I  should  be  obliged  to  you  if 
you  would  give  me  leave  to  recommend  a  particular  friend 
of  mine.  I  hope  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  excuse  the 
liberty  I  have  taken.* 

"  I  am,  &c." 

*  The  advantage  resulting  from  such     holding   a    plurality   of  livings   in    the 
an  appointment,  was  the  privilege  en-     Church  of  England, 
joyed  by  the  chaplains  of  noblemen  of 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  29 

The  Same  to  the  Same. 

"  Easthampstead  Park,  July  25th,  1759. 

"  My  Lord, — 1  received  the  favour  of  your  most 
obliging  and  genteel  compliance  with  my  request,  and 
should  not  have  deferred  sending  my  acknowledgments 
for  it,  had  I  not  waited  until  my  friend  came  hither,  that 
I  might  send  you  his  proper  title.  His  name  is  the  Rev- 
erend George  Palmer,  Clerk,  A.  M.,  Vicar  of  St.  Mary's 
in  Marlborough,  Wilts.  He  desires  me  to  send  you  his 
thanks  for  your  very  kind  favour. 

"  1  hope  1  shall  be  in  town  the  beginning  of  next 
week,  when  we  shall  both  pay  our  respects  to  you,  and 
shall  at  all  times  be  happy  to  see  your  Lordship  here. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  writer  of  the  last  two  letters  was  the  grandson 
of  the  former  Earl  of  Stirling,  one  of  whose  daughters 
and  coheiresses  married  Sir  William  Trumbull,  a  Secre- 
tary of  State  in  the  reign  of  William  III.  and  the  friend 
and  correspondent  of  Pope,  who  wrote  his  epitaph.* 
It  was  in  consequence  of  a  negotiation  with  this  gentle- 
man, and  a  Mr.  Lee,  the  son  of  the  other  daughter, 
and  coheiress  of  the  deceased  Earl,  for  the  purchase  of 
their  American  claims,  and  the  hope  of  obtaining  their 
confirmation,  through  the  influence  of  the  Duke  of  Ar- 
gyle,  the  Earl  of  Bute,  and  his  other  friends  connected 
with  the  Government,  that  Lord  Stirling  was  induced  to 

*  "Epitaph  on  Sir  William  Trum-        An  honest  courtier,  yet  a  patriot  too ; 

u..ii        u     j-    j     »  u-         *•  ..     *  tr<  Just  to  his  prince,  and  to  his  country  true : 

bull,  who  died  at  his  retirement  at  Last-        „  „   .    ...  ,,  ,        „.«**.. 

Filled  with  the  sense  of  age,  the  fire  ofyouth, 

hamsted  in  Berkshire,  1716."  A  scorn  of  wrangling,  yet  a  zeal  for  truth; 

A  generous  faith,  from  superstition  free  ; 

"  A  pleasing  form ;  a  firm,  yet  cautious  mind ;    '  A  love  to  peace,  and  hate  of  tyranny  ; 

Sincere,  though  prudent;  constant,  yet  resigned  ;         Such  this  man  was:  who  now  from  earth 

Honour  unchanged,  a  principle  professed,  moved, 

Fixed  to  one  side,  but  moderate  to  the  rest ;  At  length  enjoys  that  liberty  he  loved."  , 


30  THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING. 

postpone  his  return  to  America.  He  now  hired  a  house 
in  London,  and  resided  there  for  some  years,  in  the  full 
enjoyment  of  the  pleasures  of  London  society,  with  the 
peculiar  advantages  of  his  position.  During  this  period, 
the  correspondence  of  his  zealous  friend,  and  vigilant 
and  indefatigable  professional  agent  in  Scotland,  was 
continued. 

Mr.  Andrew  Stuart  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"Edinburgh,  September  11th,  1759. 

"  My  Lord, — The  last  letter  I  had  the  honour  to 
receive  from  you,  was  of  so  old  a  date  that  I  am  ashamed 
to  mention  it. — Being  later  than  any  from  me,  it  proves 
me  guilty  of  too  long  silence.  I  have  been  the  great- 
est sufferer  by  the  want  of  your  correspondence,  but  of 
late  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  of  you  frequently 
by  my  brother,  whom  I  am  glad  to  find  has  been  often 
with  your  Lordship  while  at  London. 

"  In  your  last  letter  you  was  pleased  to  desire  me  to 
draw  upon  you  immediately  for  my  reimbursement  of 
money  advanced  on  your  account,  and  to  mention  my 
banker.  By  the  business  of  the  Sessions  here,  and 
some  other  affairs  which  engaged  my  time  and  attention 
of  late,  your  commands  have  not  been  obeyed  as  soon 
as  they  ought  to  have  been.  I  now  send  inclosed  to 
your  Lordship,  the  accompt  of  depursements  and  writ- 
ings, &c.  When  your  Lordship  fills  up  the  blank,  which 
is  left  for  such  sum  as  your  Lordship  thinks  proper  to 
allow  me  for  my  pains,  be  pleased  to  pay  the  amount  to 
the  accompt  of  my  friend  Harry  Drummond,  whose  dis- 
charge will  be  equally  good  with  my  own. 

"  The  memorial  made  up  in  London,  which  you  sent 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  3  [ 

me  after  the  service,  has  been  frequently  perused  ;  and 
it  seems  to  me  to  be  very  neatly  drawn,  and  much  to 
the  purpose.  From  the  precedents  and  arguments  there 
stated,  one  would  think  it  most  agreeable  to  reason  that 
a  patent,  not  limited  to  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  the 
patentee,  should  transmit  the  title  to  heirs  male  collate- 
ral, in  the  same  manner  that  the  right  to  real  estate 
would  by  such  words  be  carried  to  collaterals.  If  the 
law  of  Scotland  is  to  regulate  the  case,  the  argument 
will  be  strong  on  your  side. 

"  I  hear  you  mean  to  apply  by  Petition,  so  as  to  have 
the  matter  tried  at  the  bar  of  the  House  of  Lords.  I 
cannot  help  thinking  that  this  measure  should  be  avoided 
for  many  reasons.  The  Earl  of  Stirling  is  already  on  the 
roll ;  and,  in  such  cases,  it  has  not  been  usual  to  have 
recourse  to  the  method  by  petition.  Does  it  not  insinu- 
ate a  diffidence  of  the  title,  your  making  use  of  a  dif- 
ferent mode  than  that  observed  in  indisputable  peerages, 
where  those  who  enjoy  the  title  do  not  suppose  any  ob- 
jections against  themselves,  but  barely  rely  upon  the 
goodness  of  their  title  to  defend  against  any  objections 
that  may  happen  to  be  made  ?  Has  not  your  Lordship 
the  same  reason  to  rely  on  your  title  ?  And  if  ever  ob- 
jections are  made  at  the  election  of  Peers,  or  any  other 
occasion,  then  you  can  be  allowed  to  answer  them  as 
fully  and  to  as  good  effect  as  at  present.  Is  it  not  put- 
ting yourself  to  a  great  deal  of  expense  and  trouble  that 
may  probably  be  saved  ?  For  it  is  most  likely  that  no 
objection  will  ever  be  made ; — the  rather  that  the 
objection  on  the  terms  of  your  Patent,  would  affect 
several  peers  in  the  same  situation,  who  at  present  enjoy 
their  titles  unmolested  ;  whereas  by  making  it  a  matter 
of  dispute  at  present,  you  will,  at  great  charges,  fight  a 


32  THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING. 

battle  for  many  of  the  Scotch  peers  in  similar  situations, 
who  will  give  no  aid  in  supporting  it.  Besides,  if  the 
matter  comes  before  the  House  of  Lords,  or  is  referred 
to  the  King's  Counsel,  they  will  think  themselves  obliged 
to  state  every  possible  objection,  both  to  the  terms  of 
the  patent,  and  the  evidence  of  propinquity,  and  you 
may  be  put  to  great  charges  in  calling  up  witnesses,  &c. 

"I  think  it  my  duty  to  write  to  you  whatever  occurs 
to  me  in  your  affairs ;  but  no  doubt  you  have  access  to 
much  better  advice  where  you  are.  I  only  pretend  to 
suggest  things  for  your  consideration ;  and  when  you 
favour  me  with  a  letter,  would  be  glad  to  know  what 
are  the  reasons  for  the  propriety  of  an  application  to  the 
House  of  Lords. 

"  There  are  at  present  some  friends  of  mine,  in  the 
next  room,  who  desire  to  be  remembered  to  your  Lord- 
ship :  Lord  Dundonald,  and  Sir  Robert  Henderson, 
desire  me  to  say  they  will  not  accept  of  so  short  a  visit 
as  you  paid  them  when  last  in  Scotland.  May  we  flatter 
ourselves  with  the  hope  of  a  visit  to  this  part  of  the 
world  before  next  winter  ? 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Same  to  the  Same. 

"  Edinburgh,  October  10th,  1759. 

"  My  Lord, — About  a  month  ago,  I  had  the  honour 
to  write  to  your  Lordship,  and  as  1  have  no  account  of 
my  letter's  coming  to  hand,  begin  to  be  afraid  it  has 
miscarried.  Not  knowing  your  particular  direction, 
I  directed  the  letter  and  the  pacquet  therewith  to  Harry 
Drummond,  from  whom  I  have  heard  nothing  of  his  re- 
ceiving them  ;  although  at  the  same  time  I  wrote  to  him 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  33 

that  the  pacquet  contained  an  accompt  for  which  he 
was  to  grant  a  receipt  in  my  name. 

"  In  the  letter  which  1  sent  to  your  Lordship,  alongst 
with  the  pacquet,  I  stated  fully  what  occurred  to  me 
in  relation  to  what  I  heard  was  proposed  about  ap- 
plying to  the  House  of  Lords,  for  their  judgment  about 
your  right  to  the  peerage.  I  stated  some  reasons  that 
seemed  to  me  to  weigh  against  making  it  a  matter  of 
debate  before  the  House  of  Lords:  however,  if  your 
Lordship  is  resolved  or  advised  to  bring  it  there,  I  think 
it  would  be  of  great  moment  to  have  the  signed  opinion 
of  the  most  eminent  Counsel  here  concerning  the  usage 
that  obtained  in  Scotland  before  the  Union,  in  the  inter- 
pretation of  patents  similar  to  that  whereon  you  claim; 
for  if  it  be  once  ascertained  that  according  to  the  laws 
of  Scotland,  heirs-male  collateral  would  before  the  Union 
have  enjoyed  a  peerage  not  expressly  limited  to  the  heirs 
male  descended  of  the  patentee's  body,  the  only  thing 
remaining,  would  be  to  show  that  the  treaty  of  Union 
was  not  meant  to  innovate  any  rights  or  privileges  of 
Scotch  peerages  further  than  is  mentioned  in  the  Articles 
of  Union  themselves. 

"  Mr.  Ferguson,  our  most  eminent  Counsel  here,  and 
one  very  much  conversant  with  our  antiquities  and  history, 
is  one  whom  I  would  recommend  to  be  advised  on  this 
occasion ;  and  that  a  case  should  be  laid  before  him,  col- 
lecting what  materials  can  be  found  in  the  records  here, 
proper  for  his  consideration.  It  would,  at  the  same 
time,  be  proper  to  lay  before  him  the  case  you  sent  me 
from  London,  which,  in  a  few  pages,  has  given  a  very 
distinct  view  of  the  state  of  the  question,  and  the  argu- 
ments it  will  probably  turn  upon  ;  but  as  that  case  refers 
to  decisions  and  similar  cases  of  peerages  in  Scotland, 

3 


34  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

without  any  evidence  of  the  cases  referred  to,  it  would 
be  necessary  to  obtain  from  the  records  here,  the  evi- 
dence properly  authenticated  of  the  terms  of  the  patents, 
and  of  the  proceedings  held  upon  any  of  the  cases  that 
were  disputed.  To  get  these  from  our  records  here, 
will  be  very  expensive,  and  unless  there  is  to  be  a  trial 
before  the  House  of  Lords,  I  think  would  be  unneces- 
sary. I  shall  not,  therefore,  take  any  steps  in  this  search 
of  the  records,  or  in  advising  Counsel,  until  receiving  your 
commands.  If  the  case  is  to  be  argued,  I  fancy  it  will 
likewise  be  necessary  that  there  be  an  authenticated  copy 
of  the  evidence  taken  at  Crief,  and  elsewhere,  concern- 
ing the  propinquity,  which,  no  doubt,  the  House  of  Lords 
will  expect  to  be  laid  before  them.  1  beg  to  have  your 
Lordship's  directions  with  respect  to  the  above  particu- 
lars as  soon  as  convenient,  and  to  know  whether  my 
former  letter  has  come  to  hand. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Mr.  Andrew  Stuart. 

"  London,  October  27th,  1759. 

"Dear  Sir, — Since  I  received  your  letter  of  the  1 1th 
of  September,  I  have  been  hindered  from  answering  it 
by  a  variety  of  incidents — some  of  which  I  hope  you 
have  been  informed  of  by  our  friend  H.  Drummond, 
who  promised  me  to  make  my  excuses  to  you  ;  and 
since  the  receipt  of  yours  of  the  10th  instant,  I  have 
been  waiting  for  a  conference  with  Wedderburn,  who  is 
chiefly  at  Windsor,  before  I  could  answer  it.  I  saw  him 
a  day  or  two  ago,  and  he  has  promised  me  a  meeting 
soon  on  the  subject  with  our  friend  Mr.  Johnston. 

"  As  for  my  own  part,  I  have  long  since  been  fully 
of  opinion  that  any  petition  from  me  to  the  Crown  would 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  35 

be  very  improper ;  for  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  I  have 
already  gone  through  all  the  forms  that  the  laws  of  my 
country  require,  to  put  me  in  possession  of  my  title,  un- 
til objections  are  made  at  an  election  of  peers  ;  and  on 
this  footing  I  would  choose  to  have  left  it :  nor  have  I  yet 
heard  any  thing  that  had  the  appearance  of  a  reason 
why  it  should  not  be  so.  On  the  contrary,  I  have  urged 
the  very  arguments  you  mention  in  your  letters,  and  the 
only  answer  I  could  get  to  them  was,  "  You  must  peti- 
tion, or  the  Lords  will  notice  it  in  a  manner  that  will 
be  disagreeable  to  you." — "  What  must  I  petition  for  ? 
The  foundation  of  all  the  precedents  of  petitions  is  re- 
moved in  my  case  ;  for  the  title  is  on  the  roll,  and  I  have 
no  competitor.  It  is  hard  to  petition  when  I  have 
nothing  to  ask  for  ; — a  petition  without  a  prayer  seems 
strange  to  me."  This  was  my  language  to  a  certain 
great  man* — but  petition  I  must,  and  "  as  to  the  prayer, 
let  it  be  that  his  Majesty  would  declare  and  establish  it." 
To  end  the  controversy,  I  have  petitioned.  A  copy  of 
the  petition  I  will  inclose  to  you.  The  prayer  has  al- 
ready puzzled  the  Minister,  and  I  believe  when  it  comes 
to  the  House  of  Lords  it  will  puzzle  them  too.  Whether 
it  stands  referred  to  them,  I  cannot  tell  ;  nor  shall  I  give 
myself  the  trouble  of  inquiring :  yet  I  would  choose  to 
be  well  prepared  with  every  thing  that  is  necessary,  in 
case  it  should  be  referred,  and  my  Lords  should  take 
it  up. 

"  I  should  be  glad,  for  my  own  satisfaction,  to  be 
possessed  of  the  opinions  of  the  best  Counsel  in  Scot- 
land, with  respect  to  the  effect  of  the  law  before  the 
Union,  in  cases  similar  to  my  claim.     It  might  also  be  of 

*  The  Duke  of  Newcastle,  then  prime  minister. 


36  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

use  to  show  to  my  friends  out  of  the  House  ;  but  I  do 
not  believe  it  would  be  allowed  to  be  read  at  the  bar.  I 
also  think  it  absolutely  necessary  to  have  authenticated 
evidence  from  the  records  of  all  peerages  held  in  Scot- 
land by  collateral  heirs-male — of  the  words  of  their  pat- 
ents, and  of  all  decisions  in  similar  cases.  These  I  think 
so  absolutely  necessary  to  have  authenticated,  that  I 
must  beg  you  will  do  whatever  is  necessary  to  obtain 
them  as  soon  as  possible.  As  to  the  evidence  of  the 
propinquity,  Wedderburn  is  clearly  of  opinion  that  the 
Lords  must  take  it  from  the  return  of  the  jury  of  ser- 
vice, and  that  their  verdict  will  be  sufficient  until  it  is 
falsified  :  so  that  I  believe  we  shall  not  want  any  of  the 
evidence  authenticated  that  was  laid  before  the  jury  ; 
but  when  I  have  had  this  meeting  with  Wedderburn  and 
Johnston,  I  will  inform  you  what  they  think  further  ne- 
cessary. 

"  I  can  never  think  of  the  part  you  have  taken  in  my 
affairs  but  with  the  utmost  gratitude.  I  am  sure  that 
your  anxiety  for  my  success  was  more  than  equal  to  my 
own.  I  am  no  less  sensible  of  the  frugality,  economy, 
and  industry  with  which  you  have  prosecuted  them  ;  and 
must  confess  that  the  expense  under  your  management 
has  been  much  less  than  I  expected.  1  have  filled  up 
the  blank  in  your  account  with  the  sum  of  two  hundred 

pounds  sterling,  as  the  balance  of  it. 

"  1  am,  &c." 

The  Same  to  William  Trumbull,  Esq. 

"New  Portugal  Street,  November  9th,  1759. 

"  Dear  Sir, — As  you  was  pleased  to  desire  that  I 
would  give  you  in  writing  the  proposal  I  made  you  a 
few  days  ago  relating  to  the  rights  of  the  heirs  of  the 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  37 

first  Earl  of  Stirling  may  have  in  North  America,  that 
you  might  communicate  it  to  Mr.  Lee  ;  I  shall  now  state 
the  matter  to  you  for  that  purpose. 

"  The  rights  of  which  the  first  Earl  died  possessed 
in  America,  I  conceive,  were  three  separate  tracts  of 
land, — the  first,  Nova  Scotia,  an  immense  country,  to 
which,  within  these  hundred  years,  several  persons  have 
laid  claim  as  having  right  under  one  Claude  Delatour,  a 
Frenchman,  to  whom,  it  is  said,  the  Earl  conveyed  his 
right  in  1629  ; — but  I  have  sufficient  evidence  that  the 
country  was  regained  from  the  French  in  1631, — since 
which  time,  1  believe,  nothing  has  been  done  by  his  de- 
scendants to  invalidate  his  title — Henry,*  the  ancestor 
of  your  branch  of  the  family,  being  averse  to  have  any 
thing  to  do  with  his  father's  affairs,  which  were  much 
involved  by  the  expenses  he  had  run  into  for  settling  this 
new  colony. 

"  The  second  tract  was  Long  Island,  a  country  now 
inhabited  by  several  thousands  of  families.  Here  the 
Earl  had  his  Deputy-Governor  many  years  ;  and  when 
he  died  it  was  a  thriving  colony.  After  his  death  his 
Governor  held  possession  many  years  for  the  family  ; 
but  Henry,  for  the  reason  before  mentioned,  neglected  it, 
and  about  the  year  1662,  conveyed  his  title  to  the  Duke 
of  York,  in  consideration  of  his  paying  the  Earl  three 
hundred  pounds  per  annum.  The  consideration,  I  am 
told,  was  never  any  part  of  it  paid.  Whether  Henry 
had  any  right  to  make  such  conveyance,  seems  doubtful, 
as  he  was  never  served  heir  to  his  father,  which  is  a  form 


*  The  third  Earl,  and  second  surviv-  William  Lord  Canada,  the  eldest  son  of 

ing  son  of  the  first — who  on  the  death  of  the  first  Earl,  having  died  in  the  lifetime 

his  nephew,  the  second  Earl  without  issue,  of  his  father, 
succeeded   to    his   titles  and    estates, — 


38  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

in  Scotland  absolutely  necessary  to  vest  him  with  the 
rights  of  his  father.  However,  the  Crown  has,  ever 
since  James  the  Second's  time,  been  possessed  of  this 
Island,  and  enjoyed  the  quit-rents.* 

"  The  other  tract  of  which  the  Earl  was  possessed, 
is  the  country  of  St.  Croix,  or  Sagadahock,  adjoining  to 
Nova  Scotia  on  the  west.  After  Earl  Henry  made  the 
agreement  with  the  Duke  of  York  for  Long  Island,  the 
Duke  obtained  a  grant  from  the  Crown  of  the  Province 
of  New- York  ;  and  it  was  to  include  Long  Island  as  a 
confirmation  of  his  right  to  it.  It  seems  the  Earl  lent 
the  Duke  his  original  grant  of  Long  Island  to  enable  him 
to  make  use  of  the  same  words  [of  description]  ;  and 
that  in  the  same  instrument  that  contained  the  Earl's 
right  to  Long  Island,  was  also  contained  his  right  to  the 
country  of  St.  Croix  ;  and  the  Duke,  in  his  new  grant 
from  the  Crown,  inserted  not  only  the  description  of 
Long  Island,  but  of  the  country  of  St.  Croix  also.  Thus, 
whether  designedly  or  not,  the  Duke  obtained  a  pre- 
tence of  a  right  to  this  third  tract,  which  has  since  re- 
mained in  the  hands  of  the  Crown,  but  is  not  possessed 
by  any  of  its  subjects — a  circumstance  much  in  our  fa- 
vour, as  the  restoring  of  it  will  be  attended  with  less 
inconvenience  than  if  it  had  been  settled. 

"  This,  from  the  best  intelligence  I  have,  is  the  situa- 
tion of  the  claim  that  the  heirs  of  the  first  Earl  of  Stir- 


*  In  1635,  Charles  I.  requested  the  the  same  instrument  he  authorized  Far- 
Plymouth  Company — within  whose  ret  to  take  up  and  dispose  of,  for  his  own 
Charter  Long  Island  was  supposed  to  use,  12000  acres  of  land  ;  in  pursuance 
have  been  included — to  issue  their  pa-  whereof  Farret  made  choice  of  Shelter 
tent  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling  for  Long  Island  and  Robin's  Island  in  Peconic 
Island  and  the  adjacent  islands,  which  Bay — which  he  afterwards  sold  to  Ste- 
was  done  accordingly  ;  and  in  1637  the  phen  Goodyear  of  New  Haven  :  Vide 
Earl  appointed  James  Farret  his  agent  Thompson's  Hist,  of  Long  Island, 
to  manage  and  dispose  of  the  same.    By 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  39 

ling  have  in  America.  Whether  the  right  to  these  claims 
descends  to  the  heirs  at  law — which  would  be  yourself 
and  Mr.  Lee  —  or  whether  it  descends  to  his  heirs- 
male — which  I  am  found  to  be — I  cannot  tell ;  but  from 
some  circumstances  before  mentioned,  I  should  think  it 
doubtful  whether  Henry  had  any  legal  right  to  make  the 
agreement  with  the  Duke  of  York,  or  whether  he  could 
have  any  legal  right  to  any  part  of  his  father's  posses- 
sions, as  he  would  not  suffer  his  service  of  heir-male, 
nor  be  subject  to  any  of  his  debts — which  occasioned 
his  estates  in  Scotland  to  be  divided  among  his  credi- 
tors ;  and  the  only  thing  that  secured  his  American 
estate  from  the  like  sequestration  was  its  remoteness, 
and  the  little  value  of  land  in  that  country  at  that  time. 
However,  I  think  it  best  for  us  all  to  act  jointly  in  any 
application  that  is  to  be  made  for  the  recovery  of  those 
rights  ;  and  I  am  willing  to  come  into  an  agreement 
with  you  and  Mr.  Lee  about  the  matter.  I  will  agree 
that  whatever  may  be  recovered  shall  be  divided — one 
half  between  you  and  Mr.  Lee,  and  the  other  half  to 
myself;  and  as  I  shall  have  some  leisure  this  winter,  I 
will  take  all  the  trouble  and  expense  of  searching  the 
matter  to  the  bottom,  and  of  prosecuting  it  so  far  as  we 
shall  jointly  think  it  prudent.  I  should  be  glad  if  you 
would  communicate  this  proposal  to  Mr.  Lee,  and  to 
have  yours  and  his  answer  as  soon  as  convenient ;  for 
American  matters,  which  were  formerly  little  regarded 
by  the  Ministry,  are  now  become  an  object  of  attention  ; 
and  they  will  now  be  glad  to  have  the  titles  of  their 
American  Colonies  well  settled  :  besides,  I  shall  set  out 
for  America  next  spring,  and,  perhaps,  wTe  shall  never 
again  have  an  opportunity  of  acting  jointly  in  the 
matter." 


40  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

"  When  you  write  to  Mr.  Lee,  be  pleased  to  make 
my  most  respectful  compliments  to  him.  Had  I  been  in 
Yorkshire  this  summer,  I  should  certainly  have  had  the 
honour  of  waiting  on  him,  and  am  not  without  hopes  of 
having  that  pleasure  still,  before  I  leave  England. 

"I  am,  &c." 

Mr,  Andrew  Stuart  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling, 

"  Edinburgh,  November  22nd,  1759. 

"  My  Lord, — In  a  letter  lately  to  Harry  Drummond, 
I  desired  him  to  make  my  apology  to  your  Lordship 
for  the  delay  of  my  writing.  By  my  being  so  much  at 
Hamilton,  and  other  parts  of  the  country  this  vacation, 
I  have  not  yet  got  the  searches  completed,  which  in 
your  last  were  directed.  I  want  to  have  them  completed 
before  taking  the  opinion  of  Counsel.  When  the  records 
have  supplied  me  with  the  materials,  (which  I  expect 
now  in  a  few  days,)  I  shall  state  in  the  case  all  the  pre- 
cedents that  have  any  relation  to  the  present  question  ; 
and  if  subjoined  to  this,  be  the  favourable  opinion  of  our 
most  eminent  Counsel,  I  cannot  but  think  it  ought  to 
have  some  effect  above.  I  know  such  opinions  will  not 
be  allowed  to  be  read  at  the  bar,  but  the  same  persons 
whose  judgment  determines  the  matter  within  doors, 
may  possibly  form  their  opinions  from  what  they  learn 
out  of  the  House.  Mr.  Johnston  and  I  have  appointed 
to  meet  the  beginning  of  next  week  for  settling  the  case, 
which  will  be  forwarded  to  you  as  soon  as  completed. 

"  I  am  much  indebted  to  your  Lordship  for  the  oblig- 
ing, and  I  may  say,  too  favourable  light  in  which  you 
have  been  pleased  to  view  my  endeavours  in  your  affairs, 
and  for  the  manner  in  which  you  have  footed  up  my  ac- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  4J 

compt.  Every  opportunity  I  have  of  showing  the  sense 
of  your  Lordship's  favour  and  friendship,  will  give  me 
real  pleasure.  None  of  my  concerns  I  find  can  escape 
your  notice  ;  the  congratulations  upon  the  return  of  the 
Hamilton  business,  are  a  proof  of  this.  Such  short-lived 
revolutions  are  very  agreeable  where  one  has  the  experi- 
ence of  so  good  friends  taking  part  in  their  concerns. 
The  behaviour,  indeed,  of  Duke  Hamilton's  guardians  all 
along  in  my  affairs,  was  such  as  1  had  the  greatest  reason 
to  be  pleased  with. 

"  May  I  beg  leave  to  give  your  Lordship  the  trouble 
of  presenting  my  compliments  and  best  respects  to  Mr. 
Townshend,  and  tell  him  how  sensible  I  am  of  the 
honour  of  his  remembrance. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

From  the  following  extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Lee 
to  Mr.  Trumbull,  with  the  letter  inclosing  it  to  Lord 
Stirling,  it  appears  that  the  proposal  made  by  the  latter 
respecting  the  Sagadahock*  lands,  had  been  accepted  by 
those  gentlemen ;  and  the  subsequent  correspondence 
between  the  parties  explains  more  fully  the  nature  of  the 
agreement  finally  concluded  between  them. 

William  Philipps  Lee,  Esq.  to  William  Trumbull,  Esq. 

"  York,  November  28th,  1759. 

"  I  have  returned  you  Lord  Stirling's  letter,  to  whom, 
when  you  write,  I  desire  you  will  present  my  respects. 
As  to  his  Lordship's  proposal,  if  you  agree  to  it,  I  shall 
readily  come  into  it,  and  am  willing  to  sign  any  agree- 
ment necessary  to  the  carrying  it  into  execution." 

*  A   territory  comprising  all  the  present   State  of  Maine,  lying  eastward  of 
the  Kennebec  River. 


4-2  THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING. 

William  Trumbull,  Esq.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Easthampstead  Park,  December  13th,  1759. 

"  My  Lord, — Above  is  a  copy  of  my  cousin  Lee's 
letter  in  relation  to  your  Lordship's  proposal  in  your  let- 
ter of  the  9th  of  November  last ;  and  as  he  is  very  will- 
ing, so  am  I,  to  come  into  the  agreement  you  proposed. 
I  have  therefore  now  sent  up  all  the  writings  and  papers, 
relating  to  our  North  American  affairs,  as  well  as  a  book 
of  Sir  William  Alexander's  correspondence  while  he  was 
Secretary  of  State  for  Scotland. 

"  I  think  a  proper  agreement  should  be  drawn  up 
for  us  all  to  sign,  which  I  desire  the  favour  of  your  Lord- 
ship to  do. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

William  Philipps  Lee,  Esq.  to  the  Same. 

York,  January  12th,  1760. 

"  My  Lord, --Upon  receiving  the  honour  of  your 
Lordship's  letter,  I  writ  to  Mr.  Trumbull  mentioning 
some  trifling  alterations  in  the  copy  of  the  agreement 
you  was  so  obliging  as  to  send  me.  My  cousin  has 
since  been  in  London,  but  was  not  so  happy  as  to  meet 
with  your  Lordship.  He  will  soon,  1  hope,  be  more  suc- 
cessful, when  I  doubt  not  a  very  few  words  will  entirely 
settle  the  affair. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  William  Philipps  Lee,  Esq. 

"  London,  February  27th,  1760. 

"  Sir, — I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  your  letter  of 
the  12th  of  January,  which  I  should  have  acknowledged 
before,  but  was  in  daily  expectation  of  seeing  Mr.  Trum 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  43 

bull,  who  has  been  kept  out  of  town  by  a  cold,  until  a 
few  days  ago.  Since  he  came  to  town  we  have  cor- 
rected the  draft  of  the  agreement,  and  added  a  clause  ex- 
plaining that  I  am  to  be  at  all  costs  until  something  is 
recovered.  I  hope  the  agreement  as  it  now  stands,  and 
the  power  of  attorney,  will  be  quite  agreeable  to  you. 
1  have  executed  the  agreement  on  my  part,  and  have 
delivered  it  to  Mr.  Trumbull,  who  will  transmit  it  to  you, 
with  the  power  of  attorney,  for  your  signing.  I  should 
have  been  extremely  glad  to  have  waited  upon  you  on 
this  occasion,  but  that  pleasure  I  must  debar  myself  the 
hope  of,  until  towards  summer,  when  I  shall  certainly 
call  on  you  on  my  way  north. 

"  The  claims  we  have  on  government,  and  in  Amer- 
ica, are  very  important,  and  I  think  there  is  evidence 
sufficient  to  make  them  quite  clear.  I  have  them  in 
such  forwardness  as  to  lay  before  the  King  and  Council 
soon  ;  but  whatever  steps  are  taken  I  will  inform  you  of. 

"  I  am,  &c.' 


William  Philipps  Lee,  Esq.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  York,  February  18th,  1760. 

"  My  Lord, — Before  I  received  the  honour  of  your 
Lordship's  letter,  Mr.  Trumbull  sent  me  the  Articles 
and  letter  of  Attorney,  which,  by  the  return  of  the  post, 
I  sent  back  to  him  signed,  and  hope  by  this  time  they 
have  come  safe  to  your  Lordship's  hands. 

"  If  your  Lordship  should  be  at  any  time,  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  at  leisure,  it  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to 
know  what  your  brother  peers  are  quarrelling  about  be- 
fore a  court-martial.  We  have  a  report  here  that  Lord 
George   Sackville,  to  all   appearance,  is  not  to  take  his 


44  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

trial.*  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  it ;  for  I  think  the  honour 
of  the  British  nation  requires  a  strict  scrutiny  into  that 
affair. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  William  Philipps  Lee,  Esq. 

"  London,  February  23rd,  1760. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  your 
letter  of  the  18th  on  Thursday  last,  and  yesterday  I  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  Trumhull  the  Articles  of  agreement  and 
letter  of  Attorney.  The  steps  that  I  am  advised  are 
necessary  in  that  affair  I  shall  pursue  immediately. 

"  Lord  George  Sackville,  to  all  appearance,  has  acted 
the  part  of  a  man  desirous  of  his  trial.  After  many 
doubts  whether  he  was  liable  or  not — the  Attorney  and 
Solicitor  General  having  given  it  as  their  opinion  that 
he  was — his  charge  was  made  out,  to  wit,  "  disobedi- 
ence of  orders,"  and  a  court-martial  was  ordered,  but 
no  time  appointed  for  their  sitting.  Thus  it  stood  a  day 
or  two  ago  ;  but  this  morning  I  am  told  that  next  Mon- 
day se'nnight  is  appointed  for  their  meeting.  I  wish  he 
may  have  justice  done  him.  If  he  is  guilty  let  him  suf- 
fer. If  he  is  innocent,  not  only  he,  but  the  whole  Brit- 
ish nation  have  been  very  ill  used.  The  circumstances 
reported  on  both  sides  are  very  strong,  but  I  must  defer 
forming  any  opinion  until  I  see  the  evidence  given  at 
the  court-martial,  and  I  shall  then  do  myself  the  plea- 
sure of  writing  to  you  again  on  the  subject. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

*  He  was  a  Lieutenant  General  in  the  count   Sackville,  and   appointed   Secre- 

army,  and  charged  with  misconduct  at  tary  of  State   for  the  Colonial  Depart- 

the  battle  of  Minden — found  guilty,  and  ment — and  President  of  the   Board  of 

cashiered.     He  afterwards  assumed  the  Trade.     He  died  in  1785. 
surname  of  Germaine — was  created  Vis- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  45 

William  Philipps  Lee:  Esq.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  York,  March  12th,  1760. 

"  My  Lord, — I  am  glad  to  hear  by  the  letter  of  the 
23rd  of  February,  your  Lordship  honoured  me  with,  that 
the  papers  I  sent  to  Mr.  Trumbull  are  come  safe  to  your 
hands.  I  hope  soon  to  hear  that  your  Lordship  has 
entered  upon  this  arduous  affair,  which  proved  too  much 
for  my  uncle  Lee,  who  often  solicited  in  favour  of  the 
younger  children  of  my  grandfather  Stirling,  but  with- 
out success. 

"  Lord  Charles  Hay's*  affair  is  now  finished,  but  the 
result  of  it  is  yet  a  secret ;  and  as  to  Lord  George 
Sackville's,  I  cannot  guess  when  it  will  be  finished  if 
they  do  not  make  more  haste  than  they  hitherto  have 
done.  The  gallant  Captain  Elliot'sf  victory  is  a  circum- 
stance of  the  greatest  consequence  to  the  northern  sea- 
coast  of  England,  and  will  probably  sink  the  insurance, 
which  has  been  very  high  of  late. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

*  He  was  tried  in  January  of  this  year,  of  36  guns  each,  in  quest  of  the  enemy, 

upon  charges  involving  "  every  military  On  the  28th  of  February,  he  got  sight  of 

crime  of  which  an  officer  could  be  guilty,  them,  and  gave  chase.     About  9  o'clock, 

except     cowardice    and     disaffection."  Cap!;.  E.  came  along  side  of  the  French 

But  no  further  proceedings  were  had   in  Commodore  ;     in    a    few    minutes    the 

consequence  of  his  death  on   the  first  of  action  became  general  ;  and  having  con- 

the  following  May.      Vide  Gent.  Mag.  tinued  about  an  hour  and  a  hnlf,  all  the 

for  February  and  May,  1760.  French  ships  struck  their  colours.    They 

t  Commander   of  the    JEolus   of  32  lost  their  gallant  Commodore,  Thurot, 

guns,  stationed   at  Kinsale  in  Ireland,  and  about  300  men.     The  British  loss 

Having  received  advice  from   the  Lord  amounted    to    but  five  men  killed  and 

Lieutenant,  that  three  French  ships  had  thirty-one  wounded.      Vide  Gent.  Mag. 

appeared    off    Carrickfergus,  he   sailed,  for  March,  1760. 
accompanied  by  the  Pallas  and  Brilliant 


46  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Mr,  Andrew  Stuart. 

"  Portugal  Street,  June  22d,  1760. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  have  received  jour  two  letters  of  the 
7th  and  9th  instant,  with  the  copies  of  the  several  pat- 
ents and  extracts  therein  mentioned,  which  gave  me  great 
satisfaction,  as  some  of  them  apply  exactly  to  the  very 
letter  of  my  case,  and  the  others  are  in  the  same  spirit. 
There  can  be  no  doubt,  I  believe,  with  gentlemen  ac- 
quainted with  the  laws  and  customs  of  Scotland,  that 
titles  descended  to  collaterals,  as  well  as  estates,  by  the 
general  words  of  "  heirs-male  ;"  but  as  we  are  to  show 
that  in  a  country  where  the  practice  is  quite  different, 
we  must  be  as  strong  as  possible  in  our  evidence  of  the 
practice  ;  wherefore  I  must  beg  you  will  continue  your 
searches  for  as  many  more  cases  as  possible,  that  will 
apply  to  mine. 

"  I  have  desired  Mr.  Dagge  to  make  inquiry  into  the 
proceedings  at  the  time  of  sustaining  Lord  Colville's 
claim ;  which,  when  he  has  got,  I  will  send  you.  It  is 
pretty  certain,  I  believe,  that  there  was  no  reference  of 
it  to  the  Attorney  and  Solicitor  General ;  for  it  seems  to 
be  agreed  that  they  have  no  business  with  Scotch  peer- 
ages. The  best  sort  of  proof  of  the  usage  in  Scotland, 
seems  to  be  such  as  you  have  been  collecting,  properly 
attested  ;  and  of  the  propinquity,  I  am  told  that  the 
Lords  will  expect  to  see  attested  copies  of  the  evidence 
that  was  given  on  the  trial  of  the  service  ;  and  if  any 
further  evidence  be  collected,  it  may  be  taken  before 
some  Chief  Magistrate.  They  will  not  expect  any  wit- 
nesses to  be  brought  up  to  be  examined  viva  voce ;  but 
I  believe  the  service  will  have  sufficient  weight  with 
them.     It  was  very  lucky  indeed  that  we  got  the  evi- 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING. 


47 


dence  of  Mr.  McLeish  and  John  McGrowther*  taken  in 
time.  I  much  approve  of  the  alteration  you  have  made 
in  the  sketch  of  the  history  of  my  family  which  I  sent 
you  ;f  when  it  is  completed  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  a 
copy  of  it. 

"  People  in  general,  here,  are  much  alarmed  at  the 
news  we  have  from  Quebec.  Indeed  they  all  give  up 
the  place  as  lost.  For  my  part,  I  am  not  in  such  a  fright 
about  it.  General  Murray  has  still  a  good  garrison  with 
him — the  works  are  quite  sufficient  to  withstand  an 
assault,  and  if  the  enemy  are  reduced  to  make  a  siege  of 
it,  I  am  in  hopes  they  will  be  called  off  by  the  danger 
of  Montreal,  before  they  can  effect  their  design.  Mr. 
Amherst  J  set  out  from  New-York,  about  the  same  time 
that  the  enemy  must  have  arrived  at  Quebec.  Prepara- 
tions for  his  march  were  already  made  on  our  frontier, 
and  if  he  pushes  on  briskly,  he  will  surprise  Montreal 
without  defence.  Upon  the  whole,  I  think  this  march 
of  the  French  upon  Quebec  may  turn  out  a  lucky  inci- 
dent for  us  in  the  easier  reduction  of  Canada ;  as  the 
French,  by  being  so  early  out  as  all  the  month  of  April, 
must  be  ruined  :  for  in  that  country,  there  is  not  a  worse 
month  in  the  year  to  be  in  the  field,  and  at  Quebec, 
even  May  is  terrible.     The  frost  is  hardly  out  of  the 


*  These  were  very  aged  witnesses, 
who  both  died  shortly  after  their  exam- 
ination before  the  jury  of  service.  Their 
memories  enabled  them  to  trace  by  tra- 
dition and  their  own  knowledge,  the 
descent  of  James  Alexander,  the  father 
of  the  claimant,  from  John  the  uncle  of 
the  first  Earl  of  Stirling.  They  had 
been  personally  acquainted  with  James 
Alexander  before  he  left  Scotland  ;  and 
they  testified  that  he  had  always  been 
reputed  to  be  the  presumptive  heir  to 
the  Earldom. 


t  It  had  been  supposed  by  Lord  Stir- 
ling, in  common  with  others,  that  he 
was  descended  from  John,  the  fourth 
son  of  the  first  Earl ;  but  it  was  render- 
ed clear  by  the  evidence  of  McLeish  and 
McGrowther,  that  he  was  descended' 
from  John  the  Uncle. 

I  General,  afterwards  Sir  Jeffrey 
Amherst — subsequently  raised  to  the 
peerage  by  the  title  of  Lord  Amherst. 


48  THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING. 

ground — wet-thawing  rains  coming  on,  with  violent  gusts 
of  snow  and  hail,  are  great  inconveniences  to  troops  badly 
provided  with  equipage; — and  to  these  the  French  must 
be  exposed,  while  the  garrison  of  Quebec  is  covered  by 
comfortable  houses,  with  plenty  of  provisions,  and  while 
Mr.  Amherst  is  marching  through  a  more  southern  cli- 
mate, where  the  warm  season  is  more  advanced.* 

"  I  am,  &c." 

William  Philipps  Lee,  Esq.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"York,  July  16th,  1760. 

"My  Lord, — I  have  received  the  honour  of  your 
Lordship's  letters,  with  the  copies  of  the  Petitions.  The 
gout,  which  has  not  yet  quite  left  my  hands,  prevented  my 
acknowledging  these  favours  sooner.  I  am  very  sorry  to 
hear  of  the  melancholy  occasion  which  calls  your  Lordship 
to  America,  but  hope  you  will  be  able  to  leave  things  here 
in  a  promising  way.  Pray  has  your  Lordship  received 
any  answer  yet  from  the  Board  of  Trade  ? 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  "  melancholy  event "  above  alluded  to,  was  the 
death  of  Mrs.  James  Alexander.  From  what  has  already 
been  said  of  this  remarkable  woman,  it  will  readily  be 
credited  that,  she  was  long  remembered  for  her  liberality 
and  intelligence — for  her  mental  vigour,  as  well  as  her 
skill  and  activity  in  business.f     Notwithstanding  the  loss 

*  These  predictions  were  verified  al-  the  8th  of  September.      Vide  Annual 

most   to    the    very   letter.       Mons.    De  Register  for  1761. 

Levi,  who,  after  the  fall  of  Montcalm,  t  As  a  proof  of  the  respectability  of 

succeeded    to    the    command    of    the  this  notable  woman — it  is  mentioned  by 

PVench  army  in  Canada,  was  compelled  Miss  Sedgwick,  in  one  of  her  novels,  that 

by  General  Murray  to  raise  the  siege  of  Mrs.  Alexander  was  at  one  period  the 

Quebec  on  the  11th  of  May;  and  Mon-  only  person   in   New- York,  except  the 

treal  capitulated  to  General  Amherst  on  Governor,  who  kept  a  coach. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  49 

of  his  mother,  Lord  Stirling  was  induced  to  prolong  his 
stay  in  England  for  another  twelvemonth — probably 
from  unwillingness  to  leave  the  subject  of  his  petition 
before  the  House  of  Lords  undecided.  His  patience, 
however,  seems  at  length  to  have  been  exhausted;  and 
urged  moreover  by  the  necessity  of  attending  in  person 
to  his  affairs  in  America,  especially  after  the  death  of 
his  mother,  he  quitted  England,  after  all,  before  the  re- 
cognition of  his  peerage  was  obtained.  He  left  London 
on  the  24th  of  July,  1761,  and  the  next  day  reached 
Portsmouth — where  he  was  to  embark  on  board  the 
Alcide,  man-of-war,  Captain  Hankerson,  which  he  found 
waiting  to  sail  with  the  first  fair  wind.  At  noon  on  the 
28th,  the  signal  was  made  for  him  to  repair  on  board — 
and  in  the  evening  the  ship  was  under  weigh.  She  had 
under  her  convoy  a  fleet  of  transports  and  merchantmen, — 
which  so  much  retarded  her  progress  across  the  Atlantic 
that  it  was  not  until  the  21st  of  October  that  she  cast 
anchor  in  the  bay  of  New- York. * 

*  In    the    MS.  journal  kept  on  this  convoy  of  the  Alcide ;  and  suggests  that 

passage  by  Lord  Stirling,  he  complains  while  thus  in  charge  of  a  man-of-war, 

of  the  delays  occasioned  by  the  dull  sail-  merchant  vessels  should   be  subject  to 

ing,  dilatoriness  in  obeying,  or  total  dis-  martial  law. 
regard  of  signals,  of  the  vessels  under 


CHAPTER    III. 

1761-1764. 

On  his  return  to  America,  Lord  Stirling  took  pos- 
session of  the  house  in  New-York,  in  which  his  parents 
had  resided,  and  not  long  afterwards  commenced  building 
another  at  Baskenridge,  in  New  Jersey,  and  improving 
a  large  tract  of  land  there  which  he  had  inherited  from 
his  father.  On  the  completion  of  this  house,  he  made 
the  place  his  summer  retreat,  and  eventually  his  perma- 
nent residence.  Soon  after  his  removal  to  New  Jersey, 
he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Council,  and 
continued  to  hold  the  office  until  the  Revolution.  So  long 
as  the  political  ties  which  connected  the  Colonies  with 
the  mother-country  remained  unsevered,  his  intercourse 
with  his  friends  in  Great  Britain  was  kept  up  by  a  fre- 
quent interchange  of  letters.  Besides  his  Counsel  and 
Solicitors,  his  principal  correspondents  during  that  period, 
were  the  Messrs.  Penn,  his  friend  and  banker  Mr. 
Henry  Drummond,*  the   Reverend  Mr.  Porteous,  and 

*  As  an  instance  of  the  general  igno-  them  on  a  certain  day  ;  and  upon  pre- 

rance  in  regard  to  America  and  Ameri-  senting  his  lordship  to  the  lady  of  the 

cans,  prevailing  at  that  period  in  Eng-  house  on  the  day  of  the  dinner,  he  found 

land,  Lord  Stirling  used  to  relate  a  cir-  his  mystification  had  succeeded — for  she 

cumstance  attending  his  introduction  to  exclaimed  in  broad  Scotch — "  mie  God  ! 

the  lady  of  Mr.  Drummond.     Her  hus-  the  awnimal  is  wheete."     She  expected 

band  had  informed  her  that  he  had  in-  to  see  one  of  the  copper  coloured  na- 

vited  a  native   American  to  dine  with  tires. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  5 1 

some  others  of  his  Scotch  relations.  He  also  wrote  oc- 
casionally on  public  affairs  to  the  acquaintances  he  had 
formed  among  men  in  political  life  in  England.*  In  the 
winter  succeeding  his  arrival  at  New-York,  he  addressed 
a  letter — of  which  there  remains  among  his  papers  but 
the  following  imperfect  draft — to  the  former  preceptor 
and  then  confidential  friend  and  favourite  minister  of 
George  III.,  whose  influence  over  the  mind  of  that 
monarch  ended  only  with  his  life. 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  the  Earl  of  Bute, 

"  Mr  Lord, — When  1  had  last  the  pleasure  of  see- 
ing your  Lordship — which  was  the  day  before  I  left 
London — I  fully  intended  to  have  been  in  England  again 
this  winter  ;  but  being  detained  by  contrary  winds  some 
time  in  the  Channel,  and  that  succeeded  by  a  passage  of 
above  three  months,t  made  my  arrival  here  so  late  in  the 
year,  that  I  had  scarce  time  to  do  any  thing  in  the  affairs 
that  occasioned  my  coming  over  to  this  country,  before  I 
was  stopped  in  my  proceedings,  by  the  winter  setting  in 
very  severely — and  it  has  continued  so  ever  since. 

"  I  have  a  number  of  tenants  in  different  parts  of 
this  Province,  and  in  Newr  Jersey,  who  have  been  with- 
out leases  these  five  years.  The  value  of  their  farms 
has,  in  the  mean  time,  greatly  increased,  and  it  will 
scarce  be  possible  to  settle  the  rents  without  visiting  the 
farms  myself,  which  cannot  be  done  until  the  beginning 
of  summer.     Besides  this,  I  have  a  good  deal  of  intri- 

*   Vide  Preface.  the  West   Indies  also  in  charge — which 
t   Vide  Note  p.  49.     To  what  is  there  rendered  it  necessary  to  make  the  south- 
mentioned,  may  be  added  the  circum-  em   passage   across   the   Atlantic,   and 
stance  that  the  Alcide  had — besides  the  consequently  to  prolong  the  voyage. 
North   American  trade — a   convoy  for 


52  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

cate  work  to  go  through  :  the  division  and  settlement  of 
two  large  landed  estates — one  of  which,  in  my  absence 
from  hence,  has  come  to  me  from  my  father,  and  the 
other  by  my  wife — and  unless  I  attend  to  this  business 
myself,  it  must  be  done  at  very  great  disadvantage  to 
me.  These  things,  my  Lord,  render  it  almost  impossi- 
ble to  be  in  England  before  next  winter.  But  if,  in  the 
mean  time,  the  House  of  Lords  incline  to  go  into  an  ex- 
amination of  the  foundation  of  my  title,  I  have  ordered 
Mr.  Dagge,  my  Solicitor,  to  lay  a  full  state  of  my  case 
before  their  Lordships,  with  the  evidence  in  support 
thereof — all  of  which  he  is  already  possessed  of;  and  in 
this  case,  my  Lord,  I  must  beg  the  favour  of  a  little  of 
your  attention,  that  I  may  have  your  protection  and  as- 
sistance so  far  as  to  obtain  that  justice  which  every  one 
in  like  circumstances  in  Scotland  enjoyed.  I  only  ask 
what  the  express  words  of  the  patent  give  to  me  ; — what 
has  constantly  been  the  practice  of  succession  in  Scot- 
land for  a  century  or  two  before  the  Union ; — what  has 
not  been  altered  by  that  treaty,  but  is  confirmed  by  it  ; 
and  this,  my  Lord,  under  your  protection,  I  can  make 
no  doubt  of  obtaining,  and  therefore  should  be  glad  to 
have  the  proceedings  in  my  case  in  Scotland  brought  be- 
fore their  Lordships  as  soon  as  possible,  that  they  may 
be  satisfied  that  I  hold  my  title  agreeably  to  the  practice 
in  that  country,  in  the  most  authentic  manner. 

"  I  must  beg  leave  to  congratulate  your  Lordship  on 
the  happy  event  of  his  Majesty's  marriage  to  a  Princess 
so  truly  worthy  of  that  high  station  as  the  world  confesses 
her  to  be.  1  must  also  congratulate  your  Lordship  on 
the  success  his  Majesty's  arms  have  already  met  with  in 
the  attack  of  the  Island  of  Martinico.  The  troops  as- 
tembled  at  the  rendezvous  without  any  accident — left 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  53 

Barbadoes  the  second  of  January,  and  made  good  their 
landing  near  Cape  Solomon,  in  Martinico,  the  sixth,  with 
very  little  loss,  the  opposition  being  trifling.  The  Cap- 
tain of  a  vessel  that  passed  by  the  Island  on  the  15th, 
says  that  he  spoke  with  some  of  our  men-of-war's  boats, 
who  informed  him  that  there  had  been  very  brisk  firing 
for  three  days  near  the  town  of  Port  Royal.  The  Rai- 
sonable,  man-of-war,  in  attempting  to  take  her  station, 
in  order  to  silence  a  battery,  struck  on  a  rocky  shoal ;  the 
ship  is  lost,  but  the  men  and  stores  are  saved.  I  hope, 
my  Lord,  in  a  few  days  to  hear  of  the  entire  reduction 
of  the  Island. 

"  After  the  reduction  of  Martinico,  our  force  there 
would,  in  case  of  a  Spanish  war,  be  sufficient  to  take 
the  town  and  port  of  the  Havannah.*  The  possession 
of  that  port  would  enable  us  at  once  to  cut  off  the  Span- 
ish trade  to  all  Mexico,  and  the  main  as  far  as  Cartha- 
gena  ;  for  every  ship  from  those  vast  and  rich  countries 
must,  in  their  passage  to  Europe,  pass  within  sight  of  the 
Havannah.  It  would  also  deprive  Spain  of  one  of  her  best 
dock-yards  ;  the  troops  would  be  at  hand  to  make  an  at- 
tempt on  Louisiana,  and,  if  there  be  any  suspicion  that 
the  troops  now  in  the  West  Indies  would  not  be  suffi- 
cient for  the  work,  they  may  be  reinforced  with  eight  or 
nine  good  battalions  from  hence,  provided  these  Colo- 
nies be  ordered  to  relieve  them  from  garrison  duty  by 
Provincials. f 

"  Since  my  return  to  America,  I  have  met  with  many 
new  materials  that  will  enable  me  to  execute  my  map 
much  farther   into    the   interior    parts  of  the  country, 

*  The  conquest  of  the  Havannah  was  raised  chiefly  in  New  England,  was,  in 

actually  made  in  the  course  of  that  year,  fact,  employed    in     these    expeditions. 

Vide  Ann.  Reg.  1761.  Vide   Marshall's  Life   of    Washington, 

t  A  very  considerable  body  of  troops,  Vol.  I.  Introd. 


54  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

where  1  find  the  French  travellers  have  not  been  so  accu- 
rate in  their  surveys  as  we  might  have  expected.  I  pur- 
pose next  summer  to  make  a  journey  round  all  the  great 
lakes ;  after  which  I  intend  to  finish  my  map  so  far,  and 
to  do  myself  the  honour  of  sending  your  Lordship  a  copy, 
with  the  measure  of  a  degree  on  Hudson's  River,  which 
I  am  now  preparing  to  execute."       *      *     *     *     *     * 

Henry  Drummond,  Esq.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  London,  April  10th,  1762. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — I  received  the  pleasure  of  yours 
of  the  11th  of  February,  about  three  weeks  ago,  which, 
I  assure  you,  gave  me  real  pleasure,  as  I  was  extremely 
uneasy  at  your  long  silence.  The  packet  you  mention 
to  have  sent  by  Dr.  Smith,  has  come  safe  to  hand. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  and  my  friend  Amherst  for 
the  care  you  took  of  the  two  volunteers,  who,  I  hear,  are 
both  provided  for  at  Martinico.  I  sincerely  wish  you 
joy  of  our  success  there  ;  which,  you  may  easily  ima- 
gine, gave  me  no  small  pleasure,  considering  the  great 
share  Rodney  had  in  it,  who  has  been  so  kind  as  to  write 
to  me  on  every  occasion  the  particulars,  all  of  which  you 
will  have  heard  long  before  this  gets  your  length.  The 
consequence  of  this,  in  my  opinion,  must  bring  about  a 
peace, — not  so  much  from  the  event  of  such  a  conquest, 
which  is  no  doubt  one  of  the  most  material  during  the 
war,  but  that  it  will  be  a  sufficient  reason  for  us  to  begin 
treating  again  with  France  ;  and  when  we  do,  remem- 
ber my  words,  a  peace  must  speedily  follow.  I  am  so 
much  convinced  of  this,  that  the  moment  I  hear  of  a  ne- 
gociation,  you  may  depend  upon  my  putting  every  far- 
thing I  am  worth  in  the  world  into  the  stocks. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  55 

"  I  refer  you  to  a  letter  I  have  desired  Mr.  Dagge 
to  write,  for  all  particulars  relating  to  the  steps  that  have 
been  taken  about  your  peerage  ;  and  I  hope  Lord  Borth- 
wick's  having  carried  his,  after  all  the  ill-natured  things 
that  could  be  said  against  him,  is  a  good  omen  in  favour 
of  yours.  I  shall  take  care  that  Dagge  wants  not  for 
money  to  carry  it  on ;  and  if  it  should  still  come  on  this 
session,  you  may  depend  upon  my  leaving  no  stone  un- 
turned to  do  what  little  service  may  be  in  my  power. 
If  it  should  not  come  on  this  year,  I  do  sincerely  hope  you 
will  be  on  the  spot  yourself  next  winter,  as  I  do  sol- 
emnly think  that  your  presence  will  be  the  means  of 
carrying  it. 

"  Some  time  ago  I  had  the  inclosed  sent  to  me  from 
the  Board  of  Trade  ;  the  fees  of  which  I  ventured  to 
pay,  though  I  had  no  direction  for  it ;  which  I  believe 
is  called  a  Mandamus*  and  I  take  it  for  granted  is  a  great 
honour  to  you  ;  and  I  suppose  would  not  have  been 
made  out  without  your  desire.  I  hope  it  will  arrive 
safe  ;  I  have  taken  all  the  care  I  could  in  sending  it  un- 
der a  war-office  cover,  and  putting  it  safe  in  that  office- 
bag. 

"  Your  friend  Mr.  Charles  Townshend  goes  on  ex- 
tremely well,  and  gives  great  satisfaction  in  his  office.f  I 
have  wished  several  times  we  had  not  troubled  you  and 
Amherst  with  the  volunteers,  as  commissions  in  the  new 
corps  that  have  been  raised  since  you  wrent,  have  almost 
gone  a  begging.  There  has  been  an  amazing  promotion 
in  the  army  since  you  left  us, — all  down  to  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Brudenell  have  got  the  rank  of  Colonel ;  and  all 


*  This  writ  related  to  the  Saga dahock         t  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer, 
claim,  and  was  directed  to  the    Gover- 
nor of  Massachusetts-Bay. 


56  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

the  Majors,  including  our  friend  George  Scott,  have  got 
the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  to-day  I  hear  of 
two  or  three  others  ;  one  of  which  is  Jamie  Stuart,  An- 
drew's brother. 

"  I  had  liked  to  have  forgot  to  tell  you  that  Morris 
sets  out  in  a  few  days  for  India,  to  join  his  regiment.  I 
suppose  he  will  write  you  himself.  The  Duchess  be- 
haves extremely  well  on  the  occasion. 

"I  am,  &c." 

The  following  is  referred  to  and  was  inclosed  in  the 
above. 

Mr.  Henry  Dagge  to  Henry  Drummond,  Esq. 

Bloomsbury  Square,  10th  April,  1762. 

"  Dear  Sir, — As  it  will  be  proper  to  inform  our 
friend  in  New  York,  of  what  has  passed  in  relation  to 
his,  and  the  other  claims  to  Peerages,  you  will  be  pleased 
to  transmit  this  letter  to  him. 

"  Upon  the  hearing  of  the  first  peerage — which  was 
that  of  the  Earl  of  Cassilis — it  was  determined  by  their 
Lordships,  that  no  retour  posterior  to  1710,  should  be 
admitted  as  evidence  of  pedigree — where  that  retour 
was  taken  with  a  view  of  taking  up  the  title. 

"  Upon  the  hearing  of  the  next  claim,  viz.,  of  the 
title  of  Borthwick,  wThich  was  thought  to  be  a  very  ex- 
ceptionable claim,  there  were  produced  several  deeds 
and  papers  of  an  ancient  date,  in  order  to  make  out  the 
claimant's  pedigree,  which  was  not  made  out  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  their  Lordships,  among  whom  there  was  a 
difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  nature  of  the  evidence  re- 
quired in  order  to  make  out  such  ancient  pedigrees, 
upon  two  former  hearings,  but  was  fully  made  out  at 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  57 

the  final  hearing  on  Wednesday  last,  when  parol  evi- 
dence ivas  admitted  to  be  given  by  a  witness  examined  at 
the  bar  of  the  House,  of  the  general  reputation  of  the 
country  where  the  family  resided,  as  to  the  extinction  of 
some  branches  of  the  family,  who,  if  they  had  existed, 
would  have  taken  as  heirs  of  the  last  Lord  preferable  to 
the  claimant. 

"  The  admission  of  this  kind  of  evidence  will  be  of 
use  to  us  when  we  bring  on  our  claim,  which  our 
Counsel  do  not  consider  it  safe  to  do  with  the  evidence 
as  at  present  possessed  of.  We  are  pretty  well  assured 
Mr.  Stuart  will  be  able  to  get  some  deeds  and  papers 
from  the  Duke  of  Arygle,  and  Mr.  Abercrombie  of  Tul- 
liebody,  their  charter-chests,  which,  together  with  the 
parol  evidence  which  we  shall  be  able  to  offer,  will  be 
sufficient  to  satisfy  their  Lordships  of  our  friend's  pedi- 
gree. In  the  mean  time  there  is  an  order  that  neither 
he,  nor  any  other  of  the  claimants,  shall  use  their  titles 
until  they  have  legally  proved  their  right :  so  that  we 
think  it  desirable  that  he  should  not  make  use  of  the  title, 
in  subscriptions  or  any  other  public  acts,  until  after  the 
hearing,  because  his  doing  so  might  in  strictness  be  con- 
sidered a  contempt  of  the  House  of  Lords. 

"  Mr.  Wedderburn  and  I  join  in  our  best  respects 
and  wishes  to  our  friend,  who  may  be  assured  of  our 
most  earnest  endeavours  to  serve  him  in  this  matter. 

"  I  have  cautiously  avoided  naming  the  person  or 
title,  for  a  reason  which  will  be  obvious  from  the  caution 
we  give  our  friend  to  delay  using  it  until  there  is  a  hear- 
ing and  determination  on  his  claim,  which  I  hope  will 
be  at  the  very  beginning  of  the  next  session  of  Parlia- 
ment ;  before  which  time  we  hope  for  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  him  in  England. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


58  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

That  Lord  Stirling  did  not  comply  with  the  order 
of  the  House  of  Lords  may  be  readily  imagined.  Besides 
its  retroactive  effect,  he  considered  it  repugnant  to  the 
Treaty  of  Union  between  England  and  Scotland,  by 
which  he  was  advised,  the  question  of  his  right  could 
only  be  entertained  by  that  branch  of  the  British  Legis- 
lature, in  case  his  vote  at  an  election  of  representative 
peers  for  Scotland  should  be  contested  before  it.  There 
was  moreover  no  other  claimant  of  the  title  ;  and  he  had 
been  acknowledged  and  treated  both  in  public  and  pri- 
vate for  more  than  two  years  while  he  remained  in  Eng- 
land, and  after  his  return  to  America,  as  the  lawful 
possessor  of  the  Earldom.  He  had  used  the  title  in  his 
intercourse  and  correspondence  with  the  ministers  of  the 
Crown  and  other  officers  of  State,  and  in  return  had  been 
addressed  by  it  both  in  person  and  by  letter,  and  so  con- 
tinued to  be,  both  officially  and  familiarly,  by  public 
functionaries  as  well  as  private  individuals ;  in  Great 
Britain,  as  well  as  in  the  Colonies ;  before  and  during 
the  Revolution,  and  to  the  day  of  his  death,  without 
denial,  question,  or  doubt,  until  after  he  had  taken  up 
arms  in  support  of  the  liberties  and  independence  of  his 
native  country ;  and  although  several  attempts  have 
since  been  made  to  disprove  his  right,  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  others  pretending  to  be  better — yet  to  this 
day  no  subsequent  claimant  has  succeeded.* 

*  It   is   stated    by    Mr.   Turnbull,  a  ters   that  this  is  an  error,  into    which 

Scottish  Advocate,  and  the  editor  of  the  the    learned   editor    was  probably    led, 

"  Trial  of  Alexander  Humphreys" — (one  by    the    entry    on    that     day    of     the 

of  the  late  claimants  of  the  Earldom) —  order  forbidding    the    use  of  the  title 

in  his  preface  to   that  publication,  that  until    the  claim   was    allowed.     Hum- 

the  petition  of  the  American  claimant  phreys  claimed  as  heir-at-law  of  John 

was  rejected  by  the  House  of  Peers  on  Alexander,    fourth     son     of     the    first 

the  10th  of  March,  1762.     But  it  is  evi-  Earl — whom  he  alleges  to  have  left  a 

dent  from  the  dates  of  the  last  two  let-  son,  whose  daughter  married  one  Wil- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 


59 


It  has  indeed,  been  suggested,*  that  the  disobedience 
of  Lord  Stirling  to  the  order  of  the  House  of  Lords,  pro- 


liam  Humphreys,  father  of  the  claimant. 
Now  without  dwelling  upon  the  fact 
proved  before  the  jury  of  service  in  Lord 
Stirling's  case,  that  this  John  left  only  a 
daughter,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  enable 
the  reader  to  judge  of  the  merits  of  this 
claim  of  Humphreys',  merely  to  remind 
him  that  the  patent  in  1633,  to  the  first 
Earl,  is  limited  to  heirs  male.  To  get 
over  this,  Humphreys  pretends  that,  in 
1639,  a  charter  of  JSovo-damus  was 
granted  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling  extend- 
ing the  entail  of  the  whole  of  his  es- 
tates in  Scotland  and  America,  as  well 
as  of  the  honours  in  the  original  patent, 
to  his  heirs  female.  Upon  the  produc- 
tion of  this  document  with  others,  Hum- 
phreys was  indicted  for  forgery  ;  and  on 
his  trial,  the  jury,  according  to  a  practice 
allowed  in  Scotland,  found  a  verdict 
that  the  instrument  in  question,  and 
some  of  the  others,  were  forgeries — but 
that  it  was  not  proven  that  the  prisoner 
forged  them,  or  was  guilty,  art  or  part 
thereof,  or  as  an  accessory  thereto  ;  and 
also  that  it  was  not  proven  that  he  utter- 
ed them  as  genuine,  knowing  them  to 
be  forged.  Besides  this  indictment,  a 
civil  suit  was  instituted  in  the  Court  of 
Session  in  1833,  by  the  officers  of  State 
in  Scotland,  against  Mr.  Humphreys- 
Alexander,  (for  he  had  obtained  a  license 
from  the  Crown,  to  add  the  latter  to  his 
original  surname,)  for  the  purpose  of 
setting  aside  certain  proceedings  under 
which  he  had  assumed  the  title,  and 
claimed  the  privileges  of  the  Earl  of  Stir- 
ling. In  this  suit  the  various  pretences 
set  up  by  the  defendant  in  support  of  his 
claims  were  met  and  opposed  upon  the 
following  grounds  amongst  others,  viz., 
"  that  the  documents  adduced  were  false, 


forged,  fabricated  and  devised,  vitiated 
and  erased  in  substantialibus,  and  defec- 
tive in  the  solemnities  required  by  law" 
— that  they  were  "  irregular,  and  illegal, 
and  funditus  void  and  null  ;" — and  that 
the  defendant  was  not  lawful  and  near- 
est heir  in  general  or  in  special  to  the 
first  Earl  of  Stirling.  The  judgment  of 
the  Court  on  all  these  points  was  a  gainst 
the  defendant,  who  appealed  to  the 
House  of  Lords,  where  the  case  is  now 
pending. 

The  forged  papers  were  alleged  to 
have  been  "  recovered"  in  1837,  through 
the  means  of  the  notorious  Marie  Anne 
Le  Normand,  the  most  adroit  and  suc- 
cessful of  French  fortune-tellers,  who 
died  in  1843,  leaving  a  large  fortune,  the 
result  of  tact  and  industry  in  her  trade. 
The  following  account  of  the  acquain- 
tance of  Mr.  Humphreys-Alexander 
and  his  family  with  this  ingenious  per- 
sonage is  given  in  his  own  words ;  not 
so  much  from  its  connexion  with  the  de- 
tails of  the  text,  as  to  compensate  for 
their  dullness  :  "  It  appears."  says  Mr. 
Humphreys- Alexander, "that  Lady  Stir- 
ling had  become  acquainted  with  Mdlle. 
Le  Normand  in  1812,  and  had  received 
from  her  the  strongest  marks  of  atten- 
tion and  regard,  during  her  residence  in 
France  in  the  years  1812,  1813,  and 
1815;  and  that  afterwards  she  kept  up  a 
correspondence  with  that  lady  from  time 
to  time.  The  appellant  (Humphreys)  had 
been  frequently  advised  to  direct  searches 
to  be  made  in  France  for  any  documents 
that  might  throw  light  on  the  history  of 
the  family  of  Stirling ;  and  accordingly 
investigations  had  been  repeatedly  made 
in  different  quarters,  under  his  directions. 
Among  others  who  had  been  applied  to 


By  Mr.  Sedgwick,  in  his  Life  of  Governor  Livingston,  p.  215. 


60 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 


hibiting  him  from  assuming  the  title  until  the  hearing  of 
his  petition,  may  have  influenced  the  final  decision.    But 


with  a  view  to  interest  themselves  on 
his  behalf,  Lady  Stirling  had  made  ap- 
plication to  Mdlle.  Le  Normand,  who 
had  an  extensive  literary  acquaintance, 
and  who  promised  to  get  searches  made 
in  the  public  offices  of  France  for  any 
papers  bearing  on  this  subject.  Accord- 
ingly she  bestowed  much  pains  in  mak- 
ing the  necessary  investigations,  and  re- 
peatedly made  it  known  to  a  large  cir- 
cle of  acquaintances,  that  she  had  under- 
taken to  make  these  inquiries.  Mdlle. 
Le  Normand  one  day,  about  the  middle 
of  July,  1837,  communicated  to  him  that 
she  had  received  a  document  which 
might  be  of  importance  to  him  ;  and 
after  conversing  some  time  about  his 
family,  she  drew  from  under  a  heap  of 
papers,  a  packet ;  and  taking  off  the 
cover  she  showed  him  the  map  of  Cana- 
da now  in  process.  Various  inquiries 
were  afterwards  made  by  her,  for  the 
purpose  of  tracing  the  individuals  in 
whose  custody  this  document  had  previ- 
ously been  preserved,  but  without  effect. 
In  consequence  of  the  appellant's  anxiety 
that  the  map  of  Canada  should  be 
brought  over  in  safety  to  this  country, 
he  sent  his  second  son,  Mr.  Charles 
Alexander,  to  Paris,  for  the  purpose  of 
receiving  it  from  Mdlle.  Le  Normand. 
Mr.  C.  Alexander,  who  had  been  previ- 
ously residing  in  Edinburgh,  with  his 
mother,  was  only  nine  days  in  Paris, 
when  the  map  was  delivered  to  him,  on 
the  8th  of  November,  1837,  being  the 
same  day  on  which  he  left  Paris.  The 
map  was  enclosed  in  an  envelope,  hav- 
ing the  following  mark  upon  it  in  the 
handwriting  of  Mdlle.  Le  Normand  : — 
"Cette  carte  du  Canada, revetue  de  divers 
autographes,  fut  mise  en  ma  possession 


le  11  Juillet,  1837.  Je  1'  ai  remise 
aujourd  hui  aux  mains  de  Monsieur  Al- 
exander, second  fils  de  Lord  Stirling — a 
present  a  Paris.  La  ditte  carte  est  sous 
envellopee  revetue  de  mon  cachet.  Je 
m'en  desaissis  en  faveur  de  la  famille 
Stirling.  Cette  carte  n'est  point  sortie 
de  mon  interieur  que  pour  etre  revetue 
de  formalitees  necessaires.  En  foi  de 
quoi  J'ai  signe.  M.  A.  Le  Normand." 
Upon  this  map  of  Canada  were  written 
and  pasted  various  somewhat  lengthy 
letters,  some  dating  as  far  back  as  1707, 
respecting  the  charter  in  favour  of  Wil- 
liam Earl  of  Stirling.  One  is  a  long  let- 
ter from  M.  Mallet,  who  concludes  with 
these  words  : — "  Ainsi  Le  Roi  d'Angle- 
terre  donne  au  Compte  de  Stirling,  et 
a  assure  a  ses  descendants  en  perpetuite 
assez  de  terres  fonder  un  puissant  em- 
pire en  Amerique."  And  the  alleged 
original  of  this  letter  bears  upon  its  mar- 
gin the  following,  asserted  to  be  a  mem- 
orandum by  his  Majesty  Louis  XV. — 
'  Cette  note  est  digne  de  quelque  atten- 
tion dans  les  circonstances  presentes ; 
mais  qu'en  m'envoie  la  copie  de  la 
charte  originale.'  M.  Villenave  adds 
beneath  this  :  *■  J'  atteste  que  les  quatres 
lignesce-dessussont  de  la  main  de  Louis 
XV.,  et  parfaitements  conforme  a  l'ecri- 
ture  de  ce  Roi  dont  je  possesse  de  plu- 
sieurs  pieces  et  lettres  autographs.'  Upon 
these  and  the  other  French  documents 
relied  on  by  the  appellant,  the  respond- 
ents made  the  following  among  other 
remarks  :  "  The  appellant  sets  forth  that 
on  the  12th  of  July,  1837,  he  received 
information  of  the  existence  of  an  old 
map  of  Canada  containing  certain  docu- 
ments concerning  his  family,  partly  writ- 
ten,  partly   pasted   on   its    back,  from 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 


61 


were  such  decision  ever  made,  it  would  have  been  much 
more  likely  to  have  been  made  in  consequence  of  the 


Mdlle.  Marie  Anne  Le  Normand,  whom 
he  is  pleased  to  style,  an  authoress  of 
some  note,  who  keep9  a  circulating  libra- 
ry in  Paris  and  possesses  a  considerable 
collection  of  unpublished  MSS.'  Mdlle. 
Le  Normand  is  undoubtedly  a  person 
'  of  some  note,'  since  she  turns  out  to  be 
no  other  than  the  person  who  acquired 
such  unquestionable  celebrity  as  a  sybil 
and  diviner,  and  wasmixed  up  in  many  of 
the  intrigues  of  the  Court  of  Napoleon 
and  the  Empress  Josephine.  She  appears 
now  to  have  fallen  somewhat  in  station, 
though  she  still  practises  the  arts  of  di- 
vination for  hire.  The  documents  thus 
furnished,  are  not  traced  to  any  higher 
source  than  that  of  Mdlle.  Le  Normand. 
What  they  want,  however,  in  historical 
evidence  is  supplied  by  a  profusion  of 
attestations  of  their  genuineness  by  per- 
sons of  high  contemporary  celebrity. 
These  papers,  the  most  important  of 
which  purport  to  be  a  private  and  con- 
fidential letter  from  a  supposed  ancestor 
of  the  appellant,  and  a  copy  of  an  in- 
scription on  a  tomb  in  Ireland,  which 
cannot  upon  any  theory  be  supposed  to 
have  interested  any  human  being  except 
the  defender,  or  the  family  with  which 
he  claims  to  be  connected,  and  the  suc- 
cession to  which  did  not  open  by  the 
failure  of  the  direct  line,  until  long  after, 
are  yet  actually  authenticated  by  the 
alleged  holograph  attestations  of  such 
persons  as  Flechier  Bishop  of  Nismes, 
and  the  illustrious  Fenelon.  They  are 
further  dignified  by  a  note  which  is 
gravely  said  to  be  the  handwriting  of 
Louis  XV.,  a  prince  who  is  believed  to 
have  written  only  two  words  in  his  reign, 
his  own  name, '  Louis  R.,'  and  *  bon,'  as 
an  approval  of  any  document  submitted  to 


him.  His  disapproval  was  marked  by 
a  line  deleing  the  proposal,  to  save  the 
fatigue  of  further  penmanship — which 
indeed  he  so  carefully  eschewed  that 
even  his  notes  to  his  mistresses  are 
written  by  a  secretary."  See  Trial  of 
Alexander  Humphreys,  Introd.  pp.  46, 
47.  It  is  by  no  means  improbable  how- 
ever that  some  of  these  papers  may  have 
been  genuine,  though  fraudulently  ob- 
tained by  Mdlle.  Le  Normand  and  after- 
wards adapted  by  her  to  the  views  of 
Humphreys,  or  rather  to  her  own  pur- 
pose of  deceiving  him.  A  letter  will  be 
found  on  a  subsequent  page,  from  the 
Comte  Alexandre-d'Hanache  to  Lord 
Stirling,  referring  to  the  family  connec- 
tion between  them.  The  descendants 
of  the  Comte  are  still  living  in  France, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  production  of 
the  map  by  Mdlle.  Le  Normand,  his 
son  the  Comte  Ernest  d'Hanache  was  a 
captain  in  the  garde  royale,  and  an 
equerry  to  the  Duchess  of  Berry,  about 
whose  person  his  sister  also  held  an 
office.  It  is  therefore  very  possible  that 
the  subtle  and  adroit  sybil  may  have 
contrived  by  her  artifices  to  procure  from 
them  without  their  knowledge,  materials 
sufficient  to  deceive  Humphreys,  though 
not  sufficient  to  deceive  any  one  else,  or 
establish  his  claim.  In  contrasting  the 
claims  of  this  person  with  those  of  the 
"  American"  Lord  Stirling,  Mr.  Turn- 
bull  observes  that  the  former  "  modestly 
lays  claim  not  only  to  the  Earldom,  but 
also  to  the  whole,  territory  in  Canada, 
besides  the  Scottish  estates  pertaining 
thereto,"  while  the  latter  "  confined  his 
claim  to  the  honours  of  the  patent  of 
1633,  limited  to  heirs-male ;  and  al- 
though he  made  no  formal  claim  to  the 


62  THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING. 

part  he  took  in  the  American  Revolution,  in  favour  of 
his  native  country,  especially  when  it  is  recollected  that 
he  had  always  been  an  ardent  whig,  and  that  the  whig 
ministry  who  were  in  power  when  he  was  in  England, 
with  many  of  whom  he  was  on  terms  of  personal  inti- 
macy, were  superseded  by  the  authors  of  the  oppressive 
measures  which  provoked  the  resistance  of  the  Colo- 
nies.* Be  this  as  it  may,  enough  has  been  adduced  to 
show  that  his  claim — whether  allowed  or  not — was  not 
unfounded,  or  at  least,  not  unsupported  by  strong  pre- 
sumptive proof;  and  that  it  was  preferred  in  good 
faith,  under  a  full  conviction  of  its  justice  and  validity. 
To  establish  these  positions,  and  thus  to  vindicate  his 
name  from  the  aspersions  of  enemies  who  have  repre- 
sented him  as  a  mere  adventurer,  and  a  usurper  of  hon- 
ours to  which  he  had  neither  title  nor  pretence,  were  the 
only  motives  for  dwelling  on  the  subject ;  nor  would 
this  exposition  have  been  deemed  necessary  had  his 
reputation  in  this  respect  been  vindicated  by  those  pro- 
fessing friends,  who  in  their  imperfect  record   even  of 

general  estates,  he  assumed  a  right  to  damas  genuine,  it  would  not  help  him — 
the  lands  in  Canada."  It  has,  however,  for  in  that  case,  the  present  Marchioness 
appeared  that  he  purchased  the  right  in  dowager  of  Downshire  comes  in  before 
those  lands  from  the  heirs-at-law  of  his  him,  as  descended  in  the  female  line 
predecessor.  Mr.  Turnbull  "  considers  from  an  elder  branch — viz.,  from  a 
it  probable"  that  Lord  Stirling's  "  share  daughter  of  Henry  the  fourth  Earl, 
in  the  rebellion  arose  from  the  decision  She  has  accordingly  presented  her  peti- 
of  the  House  of  Lords  against  him."  tion  to  the  House  of  Lords,  complaining 
The  reverse,  however,  is  nearer  the  of  the  assumption  of  the  title  by  Hum- 
truth.     We  have  seen  what  that  deci-  phreys. 

sion  was  ;  and    Mr.  Maidment,  in   his         *  According  to  a  statement  furnished 

Analectica    Scotica,  is  of  opinion  that  by  the  proper  officer  of  the   House   of 

•'  his  right  to  the  title  was  well  founded,"  Lords,  the  last  proceeding  in  relation  to 

and  states  his  reasons,  which,  confirmed  the  subject,  appearing   on   the  Journal, 

as  they  are  by  the  above  correspondence,  was  on  the  10/Zt  of  March,  1762,  when 

seem  conclusive.     As  to   the   claim    of  its  further  consideration  was  postponed 

Humphreys,  were  his  descent  even  what  until  the  next  session  of  Parliament. 
he  pretends,  and  his  charter  of  Novo- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  53 

his  public  services,  have  omitted  to  do  justice  to  his  pri- 
vate character. 

To  resume  the  course  of  our  narrative.  Among  the 
public  institutions  of  his  native  city,  with  which  Lord 
Stirling  was  connected,  there  was  none  in  which  he  felt 
greater  interest,  or  in  the  prosperity  of  which  he  was  more 
active  in  promoting,  than  King's,  now  Columbia  College, 
of  which  he  was  a  Governor.  At  an  early  period  of  its 
existence,  when  it  was  languishing  from  want  of  pecu- 
niary support,  the  Board  of  Governors  commissioned 
Doctor  James  Jay*  to  repair  to  England  to  solicit  aid  from 
the  wealthy  and  benevolent  patrons  of  education  in  that 
country.  In  addition  to  his  formal  credentials  he  was 
furnished  with  the  following  introductions  : — 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Lord  Romney. 

"  New-York,  May  27th,  1762. 

"  My  Lord, — This  part  of  his  Majesty's  dominions 
in  North  America,  though  populous  and  flourishing,  still 
labours  under  the  very  great  disadvantage  of  wanting  a 
proper  seminary  for  the  education  of  youth.  Some  at- 
tempts have  been  made  towards  establishing  one.  A 
College  has  been  founded  and  partly  built,  but  for  want 
of  sufficient  funds  it  is,  in  some  measure,  at  a  stand,  and 
cannot  go  on  with  spirit. 

"  It  is  an  object  that  seems  to  me  so  worthy  of  the 
notice  of  the  Society  for  the  encouragement  of  Arts,  Manu- 
factures and  Commerce  ;t  that  I  could  not  avoid  recom- 

*  A  younger  brother  of  John  Jay,  so         t  Of  which   Lord  Romney  was  the 
conspicuous  in  the  councils  of  the  Revo-     President, 
lution,  and   in  the  various  high  public 
stations  adorned  by  his  virtues  and  tal- 
ents. 


64  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

mending  it  to  your  Lordship.  The  bearer,  Dr.  Jay,  will 
present  your  Lordship  with  an  address  from  the  Gover- 
nors of  the  College.  They  most  ardently  wish  for  the 
countenance  of  the  Society,  as  it  will  be  the  best  recom- 
mendation they  can  have  to  the  rest  of  the  world. 

"  I  am,  <fec." 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  the  Earl  of  Bute. 

"  New- York,  May  24th,  1762. 

"  My  Lord, — This  part  of  his  Majesty's  dominions, 
though  very  flourishing,  and  growing  in  numbers,  still 
labours  under  the  great  disadvantage  of  being  without  a 
seminary  of  learning  for  the  education  of  its  youth. 
Attempts  have  been  made  for  establishing  a  College  in 
the  Province  of  IN ew- York  ;  but,  for  want  of  sufficient 
funds,  the  plan  cannot  be  carried  into  execution  :  where- 
fore the  Governors  of  the  College  now  send  Dr.  Jay  over 
to  England  to  endeavour  to  collect  some  funds  there. 
He  carries  with  him  a  petition  to  his  Majesty,  for  his 
Royal  favour,  and  is  ordered  to  wait  on  your  Lordship 
with  it,  hoping  that  your  Lordship  will  be  so  good  as  to 
advise  him  what  will  be  the  most  agreeable  manner  of  its 
being  presented. 

"  The  Governors  also  most  fervently  wish  to  have 
your  Lordship's  countenance  and  protection,  from  my 
frequent  experience  of  which,  I  am  induced  to  trouble 
your  Lordship  with  this  letter.* 

*  On  the  presenting  of  this  Petition  successful  in  other  quarters.     Lord  Bute 

by  Dr.  Jay,  the   King  was   pleased    to  contributed   liberally.      Several   private 

confer  upon  him  the  honour  of  Knight-  individuals,  among  whom  was  Mr.  H. 

hood.     But  this,  it  is  believed,  was  the  Drummond,  also  made  donations  ;  and 

extent  of  the  "  Royal  favour"  to  King's  the  University  of  Oxford,  a  valuable  one 

College.    Sir  James  was,  however,  more  in  books.     It  seems  from  the  following 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  55 

"  We  have  just  received  advice  of  the  Earl  of 
Albemarle's  safe  arrival  at  Martinique,  with  his  troops 
in  good  health  ;  and,  after  having  joined  the  other  troops 
there,  of  his  being  on  his  way  to  the  Havannah.  I 
congratulate  your  Lordship  on  the  prosperous  aspect  that 
expedition  now  wears. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


Besides  these  letters,  there  was  one  to  Mr.  Drum- 
mond,  soliciting  his  aid  and  good  offices  for  the  College, 
and  requesting  permission  for  Dr.  Jay  to  make  use  of 
his  banking-house  for  depositing  the  money  he  might 
collect. 

Applications  to  Lord  Stirling  for  recommendations 
and  introductions  to  his  friends  in  England  were  not 
confined  to  occasions  of  a  public  nature,  but  were  fre- 
quently asked  for  by  private  acquaintances,  and  cheerful- 
ly given  to  all  he  thought  worthy  of  them.  The  follow- 
ing partakes  of  the  former  character,  while  it  refers  to 
one  of  the  latter  description. 


letter  that  Sir  James  Jay,  after  his  re-  countenance  such  an  appearance,  I  take 

turn,  had  some  dispute  with  the  Gover-  the   liberty  to  address   myself  to  you. 

nors  respecting  his  compensation  : —  But  allow  me,  my  Lord,  to  say  that  even 

if  the  trouble  you  have  already  taken  on 

Sir  James  Jay,  Kn't,  31.  D.  to  the  Earl  my  account  did  not  preclude  me  from 

of  Stirling.  expecting  you  should   put    yourself   to 

"  My  Lord, — As  I  have  sent  cards  to  any  inconvenience,  the  idea  I  entertain 

the  Governors  of  the  College  acquaint-  of  your  Lordship  would  make  me  think 

ing  them  that  the  meeting  held  on  Mon-  it  indelicate,  as  well  as  unnecessary,  as 

day  next  is  for  the  purpose  of  concluding  you  know  of  the  meeting,  to  hint  a  wish 

matters  between  that  Corporation  and  of  that  kind  to  a  person  who  it  is  evident 

myself,  it  might  appear  rude  were  I  to  wants  no  other  incitement  than  his  own 

omit  doing  the  same  to  your  Lordship,  generosity  to  lend  his  assistance  on  such 

Lest  a  total  silence  on  my  part  should  an  occasion.                        I  am,  &c.;' 


QQ  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

Thomas  Harley,  Esq.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  London,  June  12th,  1762. 

"  My  Lord, — I  duly  received  your  favour  of  the  26th 
of  February  last,  and  am  greatly  indebted  to  your  Lord- 
ship for  interesting  yourself  in  my  welfare  in  the  manner 
you  have  done.  The  method  you  propose  of  introducing 
me  to  the  acquaintance  of  the  principal  people  in  the 
Province  of  New- York,  is  of  all  others  the  most  agree- 
able to  me  ;  and  I  assure  you  I  shall  look  upon  it  as  a  great 
honour  to  be  employed  in  the  service  of  the  Assembly  of 
so  respectable  a  Province,  and  will  endeavour  to  discharge 
the  duty  of  that  office  to  their  utmost  wishes.  At  pre- 
sent, I  have  no  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Robert  Charles,* 
but  I  do  not  doubt  of  your  carrying  on  the  business  with 
harmony,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Assembly. 

"  You  very  rightly  observe  that  this  will  not  only  be 
an  introduction  to  the  most  considerable  houses  in  New- 
York,  but  will  be  the  means  of  making  me  fully  ac- 
quainted with  the  affairs  in  North  America  in  general, 
which  I  hope,  when  it  pleases  God  to  restore  to  us  a 
peace,  to  see  in  a  more  nourishing  condition. 

"  As  yet,  I  have  not  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mr. 
Peter  De  Lancey,  Jr.  He  sent  your  letter  to  me  by  a 
messenger,  a  few  days  ago,  too  late  for  the  last  mail,  other- 
wise, I  should  have  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  it  sooner. 
You  may  depend  upon  my  showing  him  every  civility  ; 
and  where  my  little  knowledge  will  be  of  any  service  to 
him,  I  will  give  him  my  advice  freely. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


*  The   Agent  in  England  of  the  N.    of  Lord  Stirling,  joined  as  a  counsellor 
Y.  House  of  Assembly,  with  whom  Mr.     and  adviser. 
Harley  was,  upon  the  recommendation 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  57 

Peter  De  Lancey,  Jr.  Esq.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  London,  July  5th,  1762. 

"My  Lord, — I  hope  your  Lordship  will  pardon  my 
taking  the  liberty  to  trouble  you  with  my  most  thankful 
acknowledgments  for  the  favour  you  did  me  by  your 
kind  recommendations,  from  which  I  have  received  par- 
ticular advantages,  especially  from  that  to  Mr.  Wedder- 
burn,  who  has  been  the  chief  means  of  settling  me  here 
in  a  way  from  which  I  hope  a  prospect  of  great  advan- 
tage and  happiness. 

"  Give  me  leave  to  assure  your  Lordship  that  I  shall 
always  have  a  grateful  remembrance  of  your  kindness. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Philip  Livingston,  Jr.  Esq.*  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

•'  London,  October  25th,  1762. 

"My  Lord, — From  the  marks  of  kindness  you  have 
shown  me  by  your  advice  and  letters  of  recommendation 
to  gentlemen  of  figure  here,  I  flatter  myself  that  it  will 
not  be  displeasing  to  you  to  hear  of  my  present  situation  ; 
having  it  now  in  my  power  to  acquaint  your  Lordship 
that  I  am  well  fixed  in  the  Temple  according  to  my 
wishes,  in  a   pleasant  sett  of  chambers  in  New  Court, 

*  This  gentleman  was  the  son  of  of  the  United  States,  and  afterwards  a 
Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  a  brother  of  Representative  in  Congress.  He  was 
Lady  Stirling's,  and  of  a  sister  of  his  not  an  orator,  but  an  excellent  business 
Lordship's.  He  was  at  its  date  pursu-  member,  and  highly  respected  for  his 
ing  the  study  of  the  Law  in  the  Temple,  strict  integrity,  sound  judgment,  general 
After  his  return  to  America,  he  com-  information,  and  good  sense.  From  his 
menced  its  practice  in  New-York  ;  but  high  breeding  and  courtly  manners,  he 
relinquished  it  upon  the  death  of  his  early  acquired  the  soubriquet  of  "Gen- 
father,  from  whom  he  inherited  an  am-  tleman  Phil,"  and  he  certainly  seems  to 
pic  fortune.  He  was  the  first  President  have  entertained  very  gentlemanly  no- 
of  the  N.  Y.  Branch  of  the  first  Bank  tions  as  to  his  style  of  living  in  London. 


QQ  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

Middle  Temple.  They  are  not  elegant,  notwithstanding 
they  are  at  a  high  rent,  but  still  so  decent  that  I  am  not 
ashamed  to  have  any  gentleman  shown  in,  that  is  so  kind 
as  to  call  on  me.  My  mornings  are  generally  engaged  in 
study,  which,  as  they  are  very  long,  I  am  told  is  suffi- 
cient to  be  applied  in  reading,  for  I  seldom  dine  until 
four  o'clock  ;  and  then  with  a  sett  of  gentlemen  at  the 
Turk's  head  CofTee-house  in  the  Strand,  in  whose  ac- 
quaintance I  think  myself  very  happy.  The  Mr.  Aliens 
of  Philadelphia  were  so  kind  as  to  introduce  me  to  this 
sett,  on  my  first  coming  up  to  town.  Most  of  them  are 
men  of  considerable  fortune, — two  of  your  friends,  Messrs. 
John  and  Dick  Penn,  when  in  town,  dine  frequently 
with  us.  The  only  circumstance  that  may  be  disagree- 
able in  my  present  connection  is  that  of  expense, 
which  I  am  afraid  will  be  greater  than  my  father  at  first 
intended.  But  I  lately  wrote  to  him  that  I  find  it  will 
be  impossible  to  live  on  less  than  £450  sterling  per  an- 
num. This  is  undoubtedly  the  case,  for  the  rent  of 
chambers  being  high,  the  expenses  of  servants,  clothes, 
&c,  so  many  and  so  great,  that  it  is  absolutely  impossi- 
ble for  an  American  who  has  never  lived  in  London  to 
have  an  idea  of  it.  Your  Lordship's  advice  in  any  par- 
ticular will  be  esteemed  the  highest  favour. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

"  P.  S.  The  high  and  mighty  William  Franklin  has 
taken  his  passage  for  Philadelphia." 

The  following,  from  an  old  family  servant,  forms  no 
unpleasing  contrast  with  that  which  precedes  it. 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  gg 

Johannes  Race  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Stissing,  November  2d,  1762. 

"  May  it  please  your  Lordship, — As  by  the  gen- 
erous beneficence  of  your  Lordship's  ever  honoured  father, 
deceased,  your  aged  servant  has  enjoyed  a  free  pos- 
session of  a  small  part  of  his  estate,  which,  for  such  con- 
siderations as  well  became  the  noble  donor,  was  freely 
given  during  life  ;  and  as  your  Lordship  is  now  entitled, 
not  only  to  the  paternal  estate,  but  august  honours  of 
your  noble  family,  your  aged  servant,  with  equal  confi- 
dence, addresses  your  Lordship,  requesting  the  privilege 
to  call  home  the  bearer,  his  youngest  son,  to  live  with 
him,  to  contribute  to  the  comfort  of  his  infirm  and 
declining  years,  by  overseeing  his  business,  and  taking 
such  filial  care  as  your  aged  servant's  circumstances 
require. 

"  Much  relying  and  confiding  in  the  continuance  of 
the  favours  of  your  noble  family, 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  letters  that  immediately  follow,  although  relating 
to  the  personal  concerns  and  connections  of  the  parties, 
are  not  without  interest,  from  either  the  nature  of  the 
circumstances,  or  the  characters  of  the  persons  to  whom 
they  refer. 

John  Penn,  Esq.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Stoke,  September  3d,  1762. 

"  Dear  Stirling, — I  am  almost  angry  with  you  for 
not  writing  me  a  line  since  you  left  England,  especially, 
as  you  may  be  assured,  not  one  of  your  friends  would 
have  been  more  pleased  with  hearing  from  you  than  my- 


70  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

self.  I  can  only  forgive  you  upon  your  promising  to  be- 
have better  for  the  future,  which  I  expect  to  have  under 
your  hand  as  soon  as  you  receive  this,  if  you  are  not  so 
thunderstruck  with  what  I  am  going  to  inform  you  of,  as 
to  be  deprived  of  the  use  of  your  senses  for  some  time. 

"It  is  no  less  amazing  than  true,  that  Mr.  William 
Franklin,  son  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  of  Philadelphia,  is 
appointed  to  be  Governor  of  the  Province  of  New  Jer- 
sey !  The  warrant  for  his  commission  was  ordered  to  be 
made  out  last  Wednesday.  The  whole  of  this  business 
has  been  transacted  in  so  private  a  manner,  that  not  a 
tittle  of  it  escaped  until  it  was  seen  in  the  public  papers  ; 
so  that  there  was  no  opportunity  of  counteracting,  or, 
indeed,  doing  one  single  thing  that  might  put  a  stop  to 
this  shameful  affair.  I  make  no  doubt  but  the  people  of 
New  Jersey  will  make  some  remonstrance  upon  this  in- 
dignity put  upon  them.  You  are  full  as  well  acquainted 
with  the  character  and  principles  of  this  person  as  my- 
self, and  are  as  able  to  judge  of  the  impropriety  of  such 
an  appointment.  What  a  dishonour  and  disgrace  it  must 
be  to  a  country  to  have  such  a  man  at  the  head  of  it,  and 
to  sit  down  contented!  Surely  that  will  not  be  the  case 
— at  least,  I  should  hope  that  some  effort  would  be  made, 
before  our  Jersey  friends  would  put  up  w7ith  such  an  in- 
sult. If  any  gentleman  had  been  appointed,  it  would 
have  been  a  different  case — but  I  cannot  look  upon  the 
person  in  question  in  that  light,  by  any  means.  How 
this  matter  will  turn  out,  1  know  not,  but  I  should  be 
very  sorry  to  see  him  first  in  that  Government,  as  there 
cannot,  in  my  opinion,  any  good  result  from  it — but,  on 
the  contrary,  dishonour  and  disgrace  to  the  country,  and 
hatred  of  the  people  to  himself.  I  may,  perhaps,  be  too 
strong  in  my  expressions,  but  I  am  so  extremely  aston- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  71 

ished  and  enraged  at  it,  that  I  am  hardly  able  to  contain 
myself  at  the  thoughts  of  it. 

"  We  are  told  we  shall  see  you  in  England ;  but  il 
you  do  not  make  haste,  I  believe  I  shall  taste  some 
of  your  old  Madeira  before  you  are  aware  of  it ;  but 
I  reserve  that  for  another  time.  1  think  I  have  given 
you  a  pretty  good  dose  this  bout ;  so  shall  take  my  leave 
of  you,  by  assuring  you  that 

"  I  am,  &c." 


Robert  Hunter  Morris,  Esq.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Tinton,  March  4th,  1763. 

"  Mv  Dear  Lord, — John  Penn  mentioned  to  me  a 
design  to  come  to  America,  and  tells  me  in  a  second  let- 
ter that  he  did  not  choose  the  thing  should  be  talked  of: 
and  having  mentioned  the  same  thing  in  a  letter  to  your 
Lordship,  he  begs  me  to  hint  to  you  to  be  silent  on  that 
head,  until  we  hear  further  from  him. 

"  The  Duchess  of  Gordon,  from  whom  I  have  a  let- 
ter since  I  left  you,  begs  to  be  particularly  mentioned 
to  your  Lordship.  The  Duke  and  Lord  William  are 
gone  from  Geneva  to  Italy. 

"  1  beg  my  compliments  to  Lady  Stirling  and  the 
family.     With  great  respect, 

"  1  am,  &c." 

William  Coxe,  Esq.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

li  Philadelphia,  May  16th,  1763. 

"  My  Lord, — This  will  be  delivered  to  you  by  Mr 
Francis,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Coxe's,  whom  I  have  taken 
the  liberty  of  introducing  to  your  Lordship's  notice,  be- 
cause I  have  no  doubt  of  your  friendship. 


72  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

"  The  matter  is  this,  my  Lord ;  Mr  Francis,  on  a 
late  tour  to  Pittsburgh,  was  informed  by  Mr.  Croghan, 
the  present  deputy-agent  for  Indian  affairs  under  Sir 
William  Johnson,  in  that  district,  that  he  had  applied  for 
liberty  to  resign,  on  a  call  he  has  to  England  on  his  pri- 
vate business;  and  Mr.  Francis's  natural  disposition, 
and  some  pains  he  has  taken  to  qualify  himself  for  that 
kind  of  service,  inclines  him  to  try  if  he  can  get  it — and 
his  knowledge  of  the  Six  Nations' language  and  customs, 
he  thinks,  will  enable  him  to  execute  it  well. 

"  I  know  not  to  whom  to  address  myself,  my  Lord, 
on  this  occasion ;  but  if  your  Lordship  can  favour  Mr. 
Francis  with  your  advice  and  assistance  to  get  the  thing 
mentioned  to  Sir  William  Johnson,  or  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst, 
we  suppose  it  lies  with  them  to  give  it  to  the  person  they 
judge  fit  for  it ;  and,  from  Mr.  Francis's  service  in  the 
army,  he  is  not  unknown  to  either ;  for  he  is  now  an  old 
lieutenant  in  the  44th,  and  his  service  under  Sir  William 
in  the  reduction  of  Niagara,  and  under  Sir  Jeffrey  in 
the  finishing  service  against  Montreal,  may  not  be  unfa- 
fourable  circumstances — more  particularly  as  he  had  a 
greater  share  of  command  Avith  Indian  parties,  to  em- 
barrass the  enemy  and  get  intelligence,  than  most  regu- 
lar officers. 

"  If  your  Lordship  can  put  our  brother  in  the  proper 
road  to  make  the  application,  it  will  be  gratefully  acknow- 
ledged by  a  family  that  esteem  it  their  greatest  happiness 
that  they  are  a  family  of  harmony  ;  and  I  think  it  would  be 
augmented  by  seeing  their  brother  like  to  continue  in 
this  country,  where  they  may  sometimes  have  his  com- 
pany. Whether  this  will  be  best  done  by  a  recommen- 
datory letter  from  your  Lordship,  or  otherwise,  1  own  I 
am  not  a  competent  judge  ;  but  any  mode  your  Lord- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  73 

ship  shall  point  out,  Mr.  Francis  will  willingly  pursue. 
I  knew  not,  my  Lord,  any  of  my  friends  that  could  so 
well  do  me  this  piece  of  service  ;  and  your  kind  offices 
to  Mr.  Francis,  I  hope  will  not  reflect  on  your  Lord- 
ship's judgment,  because  I  think  him  deserving. 

"  1  am,  &c." 

The  following  note  from  the  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  King's  troops  in  America,  relates,  probably,  to  a 
party  of  soldiers  he  had  lent  for  fatigue  duty  on  some 
official  survey  in  New  Jersey. 

Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst  to  the  Same. 

New- York,  June  19th,  1763. 

"  My  Lord, — I  am  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  take  away 
the  small  detachment  of  men  I  lent  your  Lordship. 
But  the  alarms  from  the  Indians  on  the  back  settlements 
are  so  great,  that  I  must  collect  all  the  force  I  can,  to 
be  in  readiness  to  march  for  the  protection  of  the  inhabit- 
ants. I  therefore  send  an  officer  with  orders  to  receive 
the  men  and  conduct  them  to  the  camp  on  Staten  Island  ; 
but  shall  be  very  glad  to  order  them  back  again  when 
the  service  will  permit  me. 

"  My  respects  to  Lady  Stirling  and  the  young  ladies. 
I  did  not  know  of  their  leaving  town  so  soon,  or  I  should 
have  waited  on  them  before  they  set  out. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  following  letter  is  addressed  to  the  Minister 
under  whom  the  treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain  in 
1783  was  negotiated,  and  the  independence  of  the  Col- 
onies acknowledged.  The  occasion  of  it  was  his  ap- 
pointment as  President  of  the  Board  of  Trade  and  Plan- 
tations :   its  subject  displays  the  watchfulness  and  saga- 


74 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 


city  of  the  writer  in  seizing  upon  an  opportunity  to  pro- 
mote the  prosperity  of  his  native  country ;  and  it  also 
serves  to  show  what  occupations  he  had  proposed  to 
himself  in  his  retirement  as  most  conducive  to  his  own 
happiness,  and  his  usefulness  to  others. 


The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  the  Earl  of  Shelburne* 

"  New-York,  August  6th,  1763. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — Nothing  could  have  given  me 
greater  satisfaction  than  hearing  of  your  Lordship's  ap- 


*  Afterwards  Marquess  of  Landsdown, 
and  father  of  the  late,  and  present  peers 
of  that  title.  The  character  of  this 
nobleman  is  admirably,  and  it  is  believ- 
ed faithfully,  portrayed  by  the  younger 
D'Israeli  in  his  political  novel  of  "  Sybil." 
The  historical  interest  and  fidelity  of  the 
passage,  as  well  as  the  felicity  of  its 
language,  will  excuse  its  introduction 
here.  After  sketching,  with  a  bold  and 
dexterous  hand,  the  characters  and  poli- 
cy of  Bolingbroke,  and  of  Carteret,  whose 
daughter  Lord  Shelburne  married — the 
author  proceeds  :  "  Of  him  (Shelburne) 
it  is  singular  that  we  know  less  than  of 
his  father-in-law  ;  yet  from  the  scatter- 
ed traits,  some  idea  may  be  formed  of 
the  ablest  and  most  accomplished  min- 
ister of  the  eighteenth  century.  Lord 
Shelburne,  influenced  probably  by  the 
example  and  traditionary  precepts  of  his 
eminent  father-in-law,  appears  early  to 
have  held  himself  aloof  from  the  patri- 
cian connection,  and  entered  public  life 
as  the  follower  of  Bute  in  the  first  great 
effort  of  George  III.,  to  rescue  the  sove- 
reignty from  what  Lord  Chatham  called 
'  the  Revolution  families.'  He  became 
in  time  a  member  of  Lord  Chatham's 
last  administration,  one  of  the  strongest 
and  most  unsuccessful  efforts  to  aid  the 


grandson  of  George  II.,  in  his  struggle 
for  political  emancipation.  Lord  Shel- 
burne adopted,  from  the  first,  the  Bo- 
lingbroke system  ;  a  real  royalty  in  lieu 
of  the  chief  magistracy  ;  a  permanent 
alliance  with  France,  instead  of  the  whig 
scheme  of  viewing  that  power  as  the 
natural  enemy  of  England  ;  and,  above 
all,  a  plan  of  commercial  freedom,  the 
germ  of  which  may  be  found  in  the 
long  maligned  negociations  of  Utrecht, 
but  which,  in  the  instance  of  Lord  Shel- 
burne, was  soon  in  time  matured  by 
all  the  economical  science  of  Europe, 
in  which  he  was  a  proficient.  Lord  Shel- 
burne seems  to  have  been  of  a  reserved 
and  somewhat  astute  disposition:  deep 
and  adroit,  he  was,  however,  brave  and 
firm.  His  knowledge  was  extensive, 
and  even  profound ;  he  pursued  both 
literary  and  scientific  investigations ; 
his  house  was  frequented  by  men  of  let- 
ters, especially  those  distinguished  by 
their  political  abilities,  or  economical  at- 
tainments. He  maintained  the  most 
extensive  private  correspondence  of  any 
public  man  of  his  time.  The  earliest 
and  most  authentic  information  reached 
him  from  all  Courts  and  quarters  of 
Europe  ;  and  it  was  a  common  phrase, 
that  the  minister  of  the  day  sent  to  him 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  75 

pointment  to  preside  at  the  Board  which  must  have  so 
great  a  share  in  the  government  of  a  country  in  which 
it  is  my  lot  to  reside.  Your  Lordship's  early  inquiries, 
and  strong  desire  of  acquiring  knowledge  of  this  new 
world,  must  now  be  of  great  use  to  your  country  ;  for 
on  a  proper  management  of  the  Colonies  on  this  con- 
tinent, much  of  Great  Britain's  future  greatness  depends. 
The  wants  of  its  increasing  population  must  at  all  events 
greatly  increase  the  manufactures  of  the  mother-coun- 
try ;  but  the  suppression  of  such  branches  of  trade  as 
interfere  with  the  importation  of  them  from  Great  Bri- 
tain, and  the  encouragement  of  such  a  cultivation  of 
these  Colonies  as  will  supply  her  with  the  raw  mate- 
rials, for  which  she  is  now  obliged  to  pay  millions  to 
foreign  nations,  is  a  work  that  must  render  the  value  of 
this  continent  to  Great  Britain  inestimable.  These 
things  have,  no  doubt,  occurred  to  your  Lordship,  as 
well  as  the  proper  mode  of  carrying  them  into  execution. 
But  if  you  can  indulge  me,  I  will,  from  time  to  time, 
send  you  such  hints  as  occur  to  me,  of  measures  suitable 
to  this  part  of  the  continent ;  you  may  perhaps  find 
something  among  them  that  has  escaped  your  notice. 
"  The  making  of  pig  and  bar  iron,  and  the  cultiva- 

often  for  the  important  information  they  show  on  all  questions  discussed,  a 
which  the  cabinet  could  not  itself  com-  richness  and  variety  of  information  with 
mand.  Lord  Shelburne  was  the  first  which  the  speeches  of  no  statesman  of 
great  minister  that  comprehended  the  that  age,  except  Mr.  Burke,  can  corn- 
rising  importance  of  the  middle  class  ;  pare."  This  portrait,  tinged,  as  it  is, 
and  foresaw  in  its  future  power,  a  bul-  with  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  its  ec- 
wark  against  the  great '  Revolution  fam-  centric,  though  clever  author,  goes  far 
ilies.'  Of  his  qualities  in  council  we  to  redeem  his  "  young  English"  absurdi- 
have  no  record  :  there  is  reason  to  be-  ties.  Yet  there  are  some  touches  in  it 
lieve  that  his  administrative  ability  was  that  do  not  altogether  harmonize  with 
conspicuous  ;  his  speeches  prove  that  if  his  late  speeches  and  vote  against  the 
not  supreme,  he  was  eminent,  in  the  repeal  of  the  corn-laws, 
art  of  parliamentary  disputation,  while 


76  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

tion  of  hemp,  are  two  articles  that  want  encouragement 
greatly.  We  are  capable  of  supplying  Great  Britain 
with  both,  to  a  great  extent ;  but  the  first  requiring  a 
large  stock  to  begin  with,  people  of  moderate  fortunes 
cannot  engage  in  it ;  and  those  of  large  ones  are  as  yet 
very  few,  and  their  attention  is  generally  given  to  the 
pursuit  of  other  objects.  Some  few,  indeed,  in  this  Pro- 
vince, and  in  New  Jersey,  have  lately  erected  excellent 
works,  the  success  of  which,  I  hope,  will  encourage  others 
to  follow  their  example.  As  to  hemp,  our  farmers  have 
got  into  a  beaten  track  of  raising  grain  and  grazing  cat- 
tle, and  there  is  no  persuading  them  out  of  it,  unless  by 
examples  and  premiums  ;  and  these  it  would  be  well  for 
Government  to  try — a  few  thousand  pounds  expended 
in  that  way  might  have  a  good  effect. 

"  The  making  of  wine,  also,  is  worth  the  attention 
of  Government.  Without  its  aid,  the  cultivation  of  the 
vine  will  be  very  slow ;  for  of  all  the  variety  of  vines  in 
Europe,  we  do  not  yet  know  which  of  them  will  suit 
this  climate ;  and  until  that  is  ascertained  by  experi- 
ment, our  people  will  not  plant  vineyards  ; — few  of  us 
are  able,  and  a  much  less  number  willing,  to  make  the 
experiment.  I  have  lately  imported  about  twenty  dif- 
ferent sorts,  and  have  planted  two  vineyards,  one  in  this 
Province,  and  one  in  New  Jersey;  but.  T  find  the  experi- 
ments tedious,  expensive,  and  uncertain  ;  for  after  eight  or 
ten  years'  cultivation,  I  shall  perhaps  be  obliged  to  reject 
nine  tenths  of  them  as  unfit  for  the  climate,  and  then  begin 
new  vineyards  from  the  remainder.  But,  however  tedious, 
I  am  determined  to  go  through  with  it.  Yet  I  could 
wish  to  be  assisted  in  it.  I  would  then  try  it  to  a  greater 
extent,  and  would  the  sooner  be  able  to  bring  the  culti 
vation  of  the  grape  into  general  use. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  77 

"  It  is  in  these  vineyards,  my  Lord,  and  the  clearing 
a  large  body  of  rich  swamp  lands  in  New  Jersey,  and 
fitting  it  for  the  cultivation  of  hemp — settling  a  good 
farm  in  the  wilderness,  and  bringing  to  it  some  of  the 
productions  and  improvements  of  Europe,  that  are  my 
present  employments.  They  have  taken  place  of  the 
pleasures  of  London,  and  I  sometimes  persuade  myself 
that  this  is  the  happier  life  of  the  two.  Yet  there  are 
some  hours  I  could  wish  to  have  repeated,  those  in  which 
I  was  honoured  with  your  Lordship's  conversation,  which, 
I  shall  ever  recollect  with  the  greatest  pleasure. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Lt.  Colonel  William  Amherst*  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling, 

"New- York,  October  11th,  1763. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — Napier  and  your  humble  ser- 
vant arrived  here  safe  last  night  after  a  pleasant  ride. 
We  brought  the  packet  in  with  us,  which  Napier  all 
along  said  we  should  do.  He  stands  a  fair  chance  of 
suffering  for  witchcraft,  which  he  must  now  be  shrewdly 
suspected  of. 

"  I  have  not  yet  seen  a  paper,  nor  heard  any  mate- 
rial news.  Correspondents  say  there  is  nothing  new 
since  the  last  packet.  The  Queen  was  expected  to  lay 
in  every  day,  when  the  packet  sailed,  which  was  the 
20th  of  August.  General  Moncktonf  had  a  very  gra- 
cious reception. 

"  It  may  not  be  long  before  my  brother  and  I  leave 
this  country.  He  has  his  leave  signified  to  him  in  the  most 
gracious  manner.     This  is  only  to  yourself.     Whatever 

*  A  brother  of  Sir  Jeffrey's.  afterwards    Lieut.    Governor   of    Nova 

t  Robert  Monckton — he  had  served     Scotia,  and  Governor  of  New  York, 
as  a  Brigadier  under   Wolfe,  and  was 


78  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

country  I  am  in,  I  should  be  happier  were  you  there,  as 
there  is  no  one  who  can  say,  with  more  real  esteem  and 
regard  to  your  Lordship,  that 

"  I  am,  &c." 

"  P.  S.  The  situation  of  things  will  not  permit  our 
departure  yet  awhile.  It  will  probably  be  late  in  the 
winter  first.  I  shall  therefore  spend  some  sociable  hours 
by  your  fireside — to  whom  1  beg  to  be  remembered. 
Pray  forward  the  enclosed  with  care  and  dispatch  to 
Mrs.  Gage,* — she  will  be  glad  to  receive  it." 

Lt.  General  Gagef  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"New- York,  December  14th,  1763. 

"  My  Lord, — Captain  Price,  agent  for  transports, 
having  informed  me  that  your  Lordship  has  knowledge 
of  an  affair  in  dispute  between  him  and  Mr.  Wallace, 
and  that  you  had  agreed  to  become  his  bail — which  was 
to  have  been  completed  yesterday,  had  not  some  difficulty 
arose  in  regard  to  it.  I  should  therefore  be  much  obliged 
to  your  Lordship  for  any  insight  or  information  you  can 
give  me  relative  thereto.  Though,  from  what  I  at  pres- 
ent perceive,  it  is  a  private  transaction  betwixt  Captain 
Price  and  Mr.  Wallace,  in  which  the  Commander-in- 
Chief,  or  the  Crown  are  in  no  ways  interested  ;  never- 
theless, from   the  representations  of  Captain  Price  that 

*  The  Lady  of  General  Gage,  the  himself  notorious  by  his  conduct  at  Bos- 
successor  of  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst  in  the  ton  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolu- 
command  in  America.  She  was  of  the  tion  On  his  return  to  England  he  was 
Kemble  family,  and  was  then  on  a  visit  created  a  Baronet — and  after  his  death, 
to  her  relations  at  Mount  Kemble  be-  his  son,  who  adopted  his  profession  and 
tween  Baskenridge  and  Morristown,  distinguished  himself  in  the  service,  was 
N.  J.  raised  to  the  peerage. 

t  This   officer    afterwards    rendered 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  79 

he  must  go  to  goal  if  Mr.  Marston  withdrew  his  bail — 
which  he  told  him  he  would — and  from  his  assuring  me 
that  in  case  the  difficulties  of  jour  Lordship's  becoming 
his  bail  could  not  be  removed,  Colonel  De  Lancey  had 
promised  to  be  security  for  him,  I  took  upon  me  to  write 
to  Mr.  Marston,  desiring  he  would  postpone  doing  any 
thing  until  this  day,  and  that  1  would  inquire  into  it,  and 
endeavour  to  have  it  settled.  In  order  to  comply  with 
which,  I  take  the  liberty  of  imposing  upon  your  Lord- 
ship this  trouble. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


Robert  Hunter  Morris,  Esq.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Tinton,  December  23rd,  1763. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — It  gave  me  great  concern  that 
my  illness  in  Philadelphia  prevented  my  seeing  your 
Lordship  at  Burlington,  and  thanking  you  in  person  for 
the  two  letters  you  did  me  the  honour  to  write  since  we 
parted. 

"  Your  Lordship  doubtless  heard  what  was  done  in 
the  Sessions  relative  to  the  Indian  war,  as  well  as  what 
was  attempted  and  not  done ;  and  being  no  stranger  to 
the  men,  or  the  principles  upon  which  they  act,  you  will 
easily  account  for  their  conduct.  Perhaps,  should  the 
Eastern  Governments  come  heartily  into  the  General's 
measures,  something  may  be  done  at  the  next  meeting ; 
but  New- York  must  lead  the  way,  and  if  we  follow,  it 
is  as  much  as  can  be  reasonably  expected  from  us,  es- 
pecially as  Pennsylvania  will  do  nothing,  at  least  at  their 
first  sitting. 

"  My  best  regards  attend  Lady  Stirling ;  I  hope  she 
has  had  her  health  since  her  return  to  New- York.     My 


80  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

compliments  to  Lady  Mary  and  Lady  Kitty,*  who,  1 
doubt  not,  enjoy  the  town  and  its  amusements  the  better 
from  having  sung  Psalms  at  Baskenridge  last  summer,  i 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  circumstance  mentioned  at  the  commencement 
of  the  following  letter,  in  connection  with  its  date,  and 
the  date  and  authorship  of  that  which  precedes  it,  affords 
a  striking  instance  of  the  uncertainty  of  human  life. 


The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Governor  Franklin. \ 

"  New- York,  January  30th,  1764. 

"  Dear  Sir, — By  the  death  of  Chief  Justice  Morris 
another  seat  in  your  Excellency's  Council  has  become 
vacant ;  upon  which  I  beg  leave  to  offer  you  my  senti- 
ments. The  office  of  Chief  Justice  is  a  dangerous  one 
to  leave  open  ;  for  its  being  so  will  be  an  inducement^ 
the  Ministry  to  fill  it  up.  They  will  think  it  incumbent 
upon  them  to  fill  up  an  office  they  are  informed  is 
vacant ;  and  if  they  do  fill  it  up  from  thence,  it  is  a 
thousand  to  one  if  it  be  tolerably  filled — for  who  will 
leave  Britain  for  this  appointment  ?  And  yet  the  office 
is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  Crown,  as  well  as  to 
every  individual  in  the  Province. 

"  On  the  other  hand,  if  your  Excellency  fills  it  up 
during  pleasure,  and  recommends  your  appointment  for 

*  The  daughters  and  only  children  of  the  disgust  it  produced,  are  mentioned  in 

Lord  and   Lady   Stirling.     The  former  preceding   letters    (see   p.    70).        This 

afterwards   married    to    Robert   Watts,  disgust  arose  in  part,  probably,  from  the 

Esq.,  of  New-York,  and  the   latter   to  illegitimacy  of  his  birth.     His  time-serv- 

Col.  William  Duer.  ing  conduct    and   courtier-like    propen- 

t  William  Franklin,  the  natural  son  sities  were,  however,  the  chief  causes  of 

of  the  Philosopher,  whose  appointment  it.     Fie  was  originally  a  Whig,  but  be- 

to  the  Government  of  New  Jersey,  and  came,  ex  virtute  officii,  a  Tory. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  gj^ 

confirmation,  it  is  most  likely  it  will  obtain  it ;  and  if 
you  determine  on  this  measure,  the  person  who  most 
naturally  occurs  to  me  is  Charles  Reade.*  But  the 
superannuated  state  of  Mr.  Nevil  leaves  Mr.  Reade  alone 
on  the  bench,  and  makes  it  necessary  that  some  other 
person  should  be  thought  of  to  fill  up  one,  if  not  both 
the  other  seats.  Fit  persons  are  difficult  to  be  found  in 
New  Jersey.  Few,  if  any  of  the  gentlemen  of  the 
country  have  read  Law  enough  to  qualify  themselves 
for  the  bench,  and  as  few  of  the  lawyers  fit  for  it,  will 
give  up  their  business.  The  only  one  I  can  think  of  is 
Mr.  Kearney.  I  believe  he  inclines  to  retire  from  busi- 
ness, and  your  Excellency's  offer  of  the  office  to  him, 
with  a  seat  in  the  Council,  may,  perhaps,  induce  him  to 
accept  it.  If  he  should  not  incline  to  be  in  the  Council, 
the  next  that  occur  to  me  are  James  Parker,  and  Cort- 
land Skinner,  both  residing  at  Am  boy,  which  is  a  con- 
venient circumstance,  added  to  their  other  qualifications.f 

*  He  was  appointed.  t   John  Berrien  was  appointed. 


CHAPTER    IV 

1764-1774, 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1764,  that  the  British  Par- 
liament adopted,  at  the  instigation  of  a  tory  administra- 
tion, the  fatal  measure  which  first  provoked  the  resist- 
ance of  the  Colonies  to  the  authority  of  the  mother-coun- 
try. This  rash  experiment,  though  but  the  entering 
wedge  of  a  system  that  in  the  end  was  fated  to  rend 
asunder  the  British  Empire,  and  deprive  its  monarch  of 
"  the  brightest  jewel  that  adorned  his  crown,"  proved 
not  less  propitious  in  its  event  to  the  recusant  Provin- 
ces, than  immediately  disastrous  to  the  parent-state. 
Pressed  by  the  difficulty  of  finding  new  sources  of  reve- 
nue to  replenish  a  treasury  well  nigh  exhausted  by  the 
expenditure  of  the  war  then  lately  terminated,  the  Brit- 
ish Minister  in  an  evil  hour  departed  from  the  policy  of 
Sir  Robert  Walpole,*  who  conceived  it  more  consonant 
to  the  principles  of  the  British  Constitution  to  confine  the 
Colonies  to  the  use  of  British  manufactures,  than  to  tax 
them  in  any  other  way.  The  person  that  now  occupied 
the  post  that  Walpole  had  so  long  held  to  the  increase  of 

*  When  urged  to  establish  a  system  of  his  successors  who  would  have  more 
of  internal  taxation  in  the  American  courage,  and  less  attachment  to  corn- 
Provinces,  that  sagacious  statesman  re-  merce  than  himself."  Marshall's  Life 
plied  that" he  would  leave  that  to  some  of  Washington,  Vol.  II.  p.  78. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  Q3 

the  wealth  and  commercial  prosperity,  and  to  the  peace 
of  his  country,  though  wanting  his  political  tact,  was 
possessed  of  that  courage  in  which  the  former  had 
confessed  himself  deficient.  Mr.  George  Grenville* 
was  the  first  British  Minister  "  bold  "  enough  to  propose 
taxing  the  Colonies  without  their  consent,  and  the  re- 
ception which  his  Stamp  Act  met  with  in  America  was 
such  as  had  been  predicted  by  those  who  understood  the 
character  and  temper  of  the  Colonists,  and  it  led,  as  they 
had  foreseen,  to  the  speedy  abandonment  of  that  odious 
measure.f 

Lord  Stirling  had  been  among  the  foremost  and  most 
active  of  its  opposers  in  America.  He  had  encouraged 
a  passive  resistance  to  its  execution  by  promoting  the 
agreement  to  dispense  with  stamped  paper  without  preju- 
dice to  the  contracts  in  which  it  was  required  to  be  used, 
and  now  exerted  his  influence  in  England  in  procuring  the 
removal  of  the  Parliamentary  agent  of  the  Province  of 
New  Jersey,  who  had  supinely  witnessed  the  enactment 
of  the  obnoxious  law,  and  substituting  in  his  place  the 
eminent  Solicitor  he  had  employed  in  his  affairs  before 
the  House  of  Lords,  and  from  whom,  after  its  repeal, 
he  received  the  following  letter  : 


*  The  younger  brother  of  Earl  Tern-  Rutherfurd,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  him 
pie,  who  was  the  brother-in-law  of  the  at  Baskenridge,  and  dated,  "  New- York, 
great  Earl  of  Chatham.  Mr.  G.  Gren-  May  29th,"  of  which  the  following  is  an 
ville  was  the  only  member  of  his  extract :  "  I  have  the  pleasure  to  con- 
family  who  was  not  a  zealous  whig,  gratulate  you  on  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp 
The  late  Marquis  of  Buckingham,  and  Act,  and  the  certain  assurance  the  Gov- 
the  late  Lord  Grenville,  were  his  sons.  ernor  gives  us,  by  a  letter  he  has  from  Sec- 

t  Its  repeal  was  announced  to  Lord  retary  Conway,  that  the  laws  on  trade 

Stirling    by    his    brother-in-law,    Mr.  will  be  regulated  and  modified." 


84  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

Henry  Wilmot,  Esq,  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Bloomsbury  Square,  September  25th,  1766. 

"  My  Dear  Lord  Stirling, — I  received  the  favour 
of  your  Lordship's  letter  of  the  20th  of  June,  relative  to 
my  being  appointed  agent  for  your  Colony.  I  am  very 
sensible  of  the  honour  your  Lordship  has  done  me  in 
thinking  me  worthy  of  it.  If  I  was  ever  so  averse  to  it, 
I  would  refuse  nothing  your  Lordship  wished  me  to  ac- 
cept. I  refer  your  Lordship  to  my  letters  to  the  Presi- 
dent and  Speaker;  and  I  am  certain  I  need  not  desire 
your  Lordship  to  see  the  salary  regularly  paid. 

"  I  hope  the  mother-country  will  have  no  more  mis- 
understandings with  her  children.  I  think  it  not  likely 
they  should  begin  on  our  side.  I  entirely  agree  with 
your  Lordship  that  we  should  be  content  with  your  com- 
merce, which,  indeed,  is  all  that  is  valuable  in  colonies, 
— and  if  this  commerce  will  bring  every  farthing  of  your 
money  to  Britain,  I  agree  with  your  Lordship  that  we 
can  have  no  more. 

"  We  have  now  had  another  change  of  administra- 
tion. These  frequent  changes  are  certainly  detrimental 
to  the  public.  1  think  them  so  destructive  that  I  think  it 
wrong  to  change,  even  to  a  better  administration,  if  it 
could  be  had.  Indeed  1  do  not  see  to  whom  his  Ma- 
jesty can  now  apply,  if  he  is  dissatisfied  with  this  admin- 
istration. Lord  Chatham  is  certainly  in  full  possession 
of  the  closet,  at  present.  My  friend  Lord  Camden  is 
Chancellor,  and  my  old  master,  Lord  Northington,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Council.  I  am  sorry  Lord  Dartmouth  does  not 
continue.  I  cannot  but  think  it  had  been  of  great  advan- 
tage to  the  Colonies  to  have  had  the  First  Lord  of  Trade, 
Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies.     It  would  have  given 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  Q5 

greater  dispatch,  and  lessened  expense.  This  was  in- 
tended. The  whole  matter  was  settled,  and  Lord 
Dartmouth  would  have  kissed  hands  for  it  if  the  last  ad 
ministration  had  continued  a  week  longer.  This  mea- 
sure, it  seems,  was  not  liked  by  Lord  Chatham,  who 
would  not  permit  it.  Lord  Dartmouth  thought  it  incon- 
sistent wTith  his  honour,  unless  that  business  was  com- 
pleted, to  continue,  and  therefore  resigned.  The  Par- 
liament is  to  meet  the  1 1  th  of  November  for  the  dispatch 
of  business.  The  opposition  will  be  considerable  ;  but 
there  is  not  the  least  doubt  but  the  present  administra- 
tion will  stand  if  they  continue  to  have  the  support  of 
the  Crown — which,  for  no  other  reason  than  the  neces- 
sity of  it,  I  think  they  must  have. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

A  calm  now  seemed  to  overspread  the  political 
waters,  and  the  agitation  on  this  side  of  the  iUlantic  had 
entirely  subsided.  But  the  stillness  proved  ominous ; 
and  was  speedily  disturbed  by  the  revival,  in  a  different 
shape,  qf  the  former  project  of  drawing  a  revenue  from 
the  Colonies,  without  the  consent  or  intervention  of  their 
local  Legislatures.  This  interval  was  passed  by  Lord 
Stirling  in  the  pursuits  described  in  his  letter  to  Lord 
Shelburne.  He  usually  spent  a  part  of  every  winter  in 
the  city  of  New-York.  The  remainder  of  the  year  he 
passed  in  New  Jersey,  principally  at  Baskenridge,  where 
he  devoted  himself  to  those  public  duties  and  objects, 
which,  with  the  exercise  of  private  hospitality,  formed 
his  chief  occupations  and  pleasure.  His  correspondence 
during  this  period  possesses  no  greater  interest  than  it 
affords  in  illustrating  these  pursuits.  From  the  letter 
which  immediately  follows,  it  appears  that,  at  its  date, 


gg  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

he  was  upon   much  better  terms  with  its  author  than 
was  the  case  some  few  years  afterwards. 

Governor  Franklin  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling, 

"  Burlington,  April  2d,  1767. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — 1  have  granted  a  Sheriff's  com- 
mission to  Mr.  Cooper,  agreeable  to  the  promise  I  some 
time  ago  made  to  jour  Lordship  and  Mr.  Kemble. 

"  It  affords  Mrs.  Franklin  and  myself  a  good  deal  of 
pleasure  to  hear  that  you,  with  Lady  Stirling  and  the 
young  ladies,  are  well.  We  were  not  a  little  chagrined 
at  our  disappointment  in  not  being  able  to  join  your  party 
in  your  jaunt  to  Bethlehem  ;  but  it  was  impossible,  ow- 
ing to  continued  sickness  in  my  family,  from  the  time  of 
our  return  from  'Baskenridge,  to  the  beginning  of  De- 
cember. I  was  myself  confined  to  my  chamber  upwards 
of  three  weeks.  1  should  have  wrote  to  your  Lordship 
at  the  time,  to  acquaint  you  that  it  was  not  in  our  power 
to  be  of  the  party,  but  that  I  was  in  daily  expectation 
of  being  able  to  undertake  the  journey,  until  I  heard 
you  had  actually  set  out.  But,  although  we  were  dis- 
appointed of  that  pleasure,  we  are  not  without  hopes  of 
seeing  your  Lordship  and  the  ladies  this  Spring  at  Bur- 
lington when  the  Assembly  meets,  which  will  probably 
be  some  time  next  month.  I  only  wait  to  hear  the  re- 
sult of  the  session  of  Parliament  with  respect  to  a  pa- 
per currency,  to  determine  the  time  of  meeting,  of  which 
your  Lordship  shall  have  timely  notice.  Mrs.  Franklin 
says  Lady  Stirling  did  give  her  a  promise  of  a  visit  at 
that  time,  if  it  suited  your  Lordship  to  bring  her  and 
the  young  ladies  with  you.  I  heartily  wish  nothing  may 
happen  to  prevent  our  having  that  happiness. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  37 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Governor  Franklin. 

«  Baskenridge,  May  26th,  1761. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Your  very  obliging  letter  of  the  2d 
of  April,  I  received  some  time  ago,  which  I  should  have 
acknowledged  before,  but  1  waited  to  hear  when  your 
Excellency  should  fix  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  in 
order  to  know  what  answer  I  could  make  to  your  kind 
invitation  of  Lady  Stirling  and  my  daughters  to  Bur- 
lington ;  which  they  determined  upon  accepting,  if  their 
other  engagements  could  possibly  admit  of  it.  The  first 
week  in  June  they  expect  company  from  New- York, — 
some  of  whom  are  to  stay  while  the  hot  weather  con- 
tinues. This  must  deprive  them  of  the  pleasure  of 
waiting  upon  Mrs.  Franklin  this  summer;  but  as  soon 
as  the  summer  heats  are  over,  I  purpose  giving  them  a 
jaunt  to  the  Westward,  and  spending  some  days  at  Bur- 
lington. I  promise  myself  the  pleasure  of  waiting  upon 
your  Excellency  the  9th  or  10th.  I  hope  by  that  time 
you  will  receive  such  advices  from  England,  of  the  re- 
sult of  this  session  of  Parliament,  as  will  enable  you  to 
meet  the  other  branches  of  the  Legislature  with  mutual 
satisfaction.  Lady  Stirling  and  our  girls  join  in  best 
respects  and  wishes. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Philip  Livingston,  Jr.  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  New- York,  6th  October,  1767. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — Ralph  Izard*  told  me  last  night 
that  he  was  to  set  out  this  day  with  a  large  party  of 

*  Afterwards  a  Delegate  to  the  Con-  the  first  Congress  after  the  adoption  of 

tinental  Congress,  from  S.  C,  and  Min-  the  present   Constitution.  He  married 

ister  of  the  United  States  at  the  Court  into  the  New-York  family  of  De  Lan- 

of  Turin  ;  and  subsequently  a  Senator  in  cey. 


g3  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

Carolinians  to  pay  you  a  visit,  first  taking  Captain  Ken- 
nedy's,* and  the  Passaic  Falls  in  their  way.  The  party 
consists  of  Mr.  Blake  and  lady,  Mr.  Mott,  (a  gentleman 
who  was  here  several  years  ago,  and  perhaps  you  may 
remember  him,)  and  Ralph  and  his  wife.  They  dine 
to-day  at  Captain  Kennedy's ; — to-morrow  they  set  out 
for  the  Falls,  and  return  at  night  to  Second  River  ;  and 
on  Thursday  you  may  expect  them  with  you. 

"  As  their  party  is  large,  I  have  desired  Izard  to  for- 
ward this  letter  to  you  from  Newark,  if  an  opportu- 
nity offer  ;  if  not,  to  send  one  of  his  servants  with  it  a 
few  hours  before  him,  in  order  to  give  you  some  notice. 

"  Our  family  is  all  well.  Mrs.  Hoffmanf  is  brought 
to  bed  of  a  son.  Make  my  best  respects  to  Lady  Stir- 
ling, Lady  Mary,  and  Lady  Kitty. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

"  P.  S.  I  find  Major  Butlert  of  the  29th  Regiment  is 
also  of  the  party." 

John  Tabor  Ke?npe,  Esq.^  to  the  Same. 

"  New- York.  October  13th,  1767. 

"  My  Lord, — I  have,  with  the  approbation  of  some 
of  your  Lordship's  friends  and  mine,  taken  the  resolu- 
tion of  visiting  England  immediately,  from  the  prospects, 
in  the  present  situation  of  affairs  there,  of  effecting  a 
proper  establishment  for  the  offices  I  hold, — American 
affairs  being  now  the  great  object  of  the  consideration  of 
the  Ministry — and  the  arrangements   and   dispositions 

*  Afterwards   Earl    of  Cassiiis.     He  a  delegate  to  the   Continental  Congress, 

was  by  birth  a  Scotchman  ;  had  married  a  member  of  the  Convention  that  formed 

into  the    New- York  family   of  Watts,  the    Constitution   of  the    U.  S.,  and    a 

and  settled  in  New  Jersey.  Senator  in  Congress. 

t  A  sister  of  Lady  Stirling's.  §  Attorney  General  of  the  Province 

X  Pierce   Butler,  of  S.  C,  afterwards  of  New-York. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  39 

with  respect  to  the  Crown  officers,  and  their  support  in 
the  Colonies,  being  postponed  for  this  winter's  consid- 
eration. This,  my  Lord,  is  my  principal  reason  for  the 
voyage ;  though  I  do  not  communicate  it  to  any  but 
those  I  esteem  my  particular  friends,  and  would  wish  it 
may  remain  a  secret. 

"  As  in  the  transacting  of  this  business  I  must  ne- 
cessarily see  those  in  power,  and  who  have  influence  in 
the  Court  of  Great  Britain, — many  of  whom  are  your 
Lordship's  friends  and  acquaintances, — and  as  you  are 
not  unacquainted  with  the  labours  I  must  submit  to  here, 
and  that  the  whole  burthen  of  the  business  of  the  Crown 
in  my  department  is  on  me,  and  at  present  is  at  my  own 
expense,  with  a  very  inadequate  support, — I  have  taken 
the  liberty  to  beg  from  your  Lordship  the  favour  of  such 
letters  to  such  of  your  friends  as  can  serve  me,  as  you 
can  with  convenience  allow  yourself  to  give  me.  If  I 
can  settle  my  affairs,  I  would  wish  to  go  in  the  Edward, 
Captain  Miller  (who  will  certainly  sail  by  to-morrow 
week  at  farthest) — as  Mr.  Daniel  Coxe  and  Mrs.  Coxe 
propose  going  by  the  same  opportunity.  Let  me  entreat 
your  Lordship  to  excuse  the  liberty  I  take  in  making 
this  request. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Daniel  Coxe,  Esq.  to  the  Same. 

"  Elizabethtown,  October  27th,  1767. 

"  My  Lord, — I  propose  sailing  for  England  about  the 
15th  of  next  month,  via  Philadelphia;  and  when  there, 
shall  enter  upon  the  transaction  of  some  family  affairs, 
which  will  require  the  influence  and  countenance  of 
the  first  characters,  if  I  can  be  so  happy  as  to  obtain 
their  notice.     I  am  sensible,  my  Lord,  it  is  in  your  power 


90  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

to  assist  me  by  jour  good  offices  in  this  particular  ;  and 
I  need  not  say  how  much  myself  and  family  will  esteem 
themselves  obliged  in  your  kind  recommendations  in  my 
favour,  to  any  of  your  noble  acquaintance  in  England, 
whose  countenance  you  may  judge  of  consequence.  I 
should  not,  my  Lord,  have  taken  the  liberty  to  intreat 
this  favour,  were  I  not  persuaded,  from  the  long  ac- 
quaintance and  friendship  of  our  families,  that  you  would 
gladly  do  any  thing  in  your  power  to  serve  us — and 
which,  I  hope,  will  apologize  for  this  address. 

"  I  would  have  waited  on  your  Lordship  in  person 
to  have  received  your  commands,  but  I  am  much  straight- 
ened in  point  of  time  to  prepare.  Any  letters  that  you 
may  honour  me  with,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  your  Lordship 
to  forward  to  Lady  St.  Clair,  who  will  be  so  good  as  to 
take  charge  of  them  for  me.  I  shall  be  happy  to  execute 
any  commissions  for  your  Lordship  and  family,  in  my 
power,  in  England.     The  Mississippi  claim  is  my  object. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Captain  Archibald  Kennedy,  R.  N.  to  the  Same, 

"  New- York,  the  30th  November,  1767. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — I  proposed  doing  myself  the 
pleasure  of  waiting  on  your  Lordship  before  I  left  the 
Jerseys,  but  was  prevented  by  a  suit  in  Chancery  rela- 
ting to  our  family  affairs,  which  1  am  afraid  will  occasion 
my  leaving  this  country  without  enjoying  that  happiness, 
unless  your  affairs  should  call  you  to  town. 

"  I  beg  you  will  please  to  make  my  best  respects  to 
Lady  Stirling,  Lady  Mary,  and  Lady  Kitty.  If  in  any 
thing  I  can  serve  you  at  home,  please  direct  your  favours 
for  me  to  Will's  Coffee  House. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  ${ 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  John  Tabor  Kempe,  Esq. 

"  Baskenridge,  December  16th,  1767. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  did  not  receive  your  letter  of  the 
12th  of  October,  until  three  weeks  after  its  date ;  and 
as  I  understood  by  it  you  were  to  embark  in  the  Edward, 
I  concluded  you  had  sailed  before  it  came  to  my  hands. 
Yesterday  I  was  informed  you  had  not  gone  in  the  Ed- 
ward, but  proposed  to  go  in  the  Coventry.  Though  I  am 
afraid  this  will  be  too  late  to  reach  you  in  New- York, 
yet  I  hope  it  will  reach  you  in  London,  early  enough  to 
be  of  some  use  to  you. 

"  Of  those  among  the  great  in  England,  who  hon- 
oured me  with  their  acquaintance,  some  are  dead ;  others 
change  places  so  often  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  pitch 
upon  any  who  may  now  be  of  use  to  you  ;  but  there  is 
one  gentleman, — the  person  to  whom  the  enclosed  letter 
is  directed — who  can  be  of  great  use  to  you,  as  well  in 
your  application  respecting  the  support  of  your  offices, 
as  in  the  claims  of  the  Coxe  family.  Mr.  Wilmot  is  one 
of  the  most  eminent  Solicitors  in  London — intimately 
acquainted  with  many  of  the  greatest  personages  in 
power — has  easy  access  to  most  of  them — is  Secretary 
to  the  present,  and  was  to  the  late  Lord  Chancellor.  He 
is  agent  to  this  Province  and  several  of  the  West  India 
Islands.  To  him  I  have  recommended  you,  and  doubt 
not  he  will  give  you  the  best  assistance  in  his  power.  I 
have  mentioned  to  him  the  situation  of  your  affairs,  and 
have  left  it  open  to  you  to  communicate  other  matters 
to  him  as  you  find  most  proper.  That  you  may  succeed 
in  your  hopes,  and  return  to  this  country  in  a  manner 
agreeable  to  yourself  and  your  friends,  is  the  wish  of 

"  Yours,  &c." 


92  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

The  Same  to  Henry  Wilmot,  Esq. 

"  Baskenridge,  December  16th,  1767. 

"  Dear  Sir, — This  will  be  delivered  to  you  by  my 
friend  Mr.  John  Tabor  Kempe,  the  present  Attorney 
General  of  the  Province  of  New-York, — which  office  he 
has  held  for  some  years  with  great  reputation  and  honour, 
and  has  gone  through  the  whole  labour  of  the  Crown 
business  without  assistance,  and  at  his  own  expense, 
except  a  trifling  salary. 

"  American  affairs  being  now  an  object  of  attention 
of  the  Ministry,  and  the  arrangements  and  dispositions 
with  respect  to  the  Crown  officers,  and  their  support  in 
the  Colonies,  being,  as  we  are  told,  postponed  for  this 
winter's  consideration,  induces  him  to  make  this  visit  to 
Great  Britain  in  hopes  of  obtaining  a  better  establish- 
ment and  support  for  the  offices  he  holds.  He  has  also 
some  other  matters  in  view  respecting  the  claims  of  the 
Coxe  family,  with  whom  he  is  connected.  Let  me  in- 
treat  you,  my  dear  sir,  to  be  the  friend  of  this  worthy 
man,  and  to  excuse  the  liberty  I  have  taken  in  this  re- 
commendation. 

"  Some  time  since,  the  Council  of  Proprietors  of 
East  Jersey,  appointed  a  Committee  to  correspond  with 
you  to  the  intent  of  getting  some  papers  relative  to  their 
affairs  which  were  formerly  in  the  hands  of  Humphrey 
Bowles,  of  London.  The  discovery  of  those  papers 
may  be  of  very  great  use  in  the  affairs  of  the  Proprietors 
in  general,  and  to  mine  in  particular, — especially  three 
books  of  Minutes  and  Registers.  The  latter  contain 
records  of  most  of  the  early  deeds  and  conveyances  be- 
tween proprietor  and  proprietor.  They  were,  as  ap- 
pears from  a  letter  of  Margaret  Bowles,  dated  upwards 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  93 

of  twenty  years  ago,  in  her  hands.  About  eight  years 
ago,  Messrs.  De  Laneey  and  Cuyler  of  this  country, 
made  a  purchase  of  Bowles's  estate  in  this  Province,  and, 
by  their  agent,  Mr.  Moses  Franks,  in  London,  bargained 
that  all  the  papers  relating  to  New  Jersey  in  the  hands 
of  Bowles,  should  be  delivered  up  to  them.  While  1 
was  in  London,  Mr.  Franks  often  told  me  there  were 
many  large  chests  and  trunks  full  of  those  books,  parch- 
ments, and  papers  (cart-loads,  and  tuns,  were  sometimes 
his  expression)  ;  but  afterwards,  on  sending  for  them, 
with  the  approbation  of  De  Laneey  and  Cuyler,  a  few 
deeds  relative  to  the  particular  estate  of  Bowles,  only 
have  appeared.  You  will  oblige  me  and  all  the  proprie- 
tors very  much,  by  giving  your  attention  to  this  affair ; 
to  find  out  from  Bowles's  executors,  what  papers  and 
books  they  delivered  up  to  Franks,  what  he  received 
from  Bowles,  and  how  he  disposed  of  them  ; — and  let 
me  beg  of  you  to  give  me  the  earliest  intelligence  of 
your  success. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Same  to  Captain  Archibald  Kennedy,  R.  N. 

"  Baskenridge,  December  16th,  1767. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  did  not  receive  your  favour  of  the 
30th  of  November,  until  this  day  ;— nor  did  I,  until  then, 
know  of  your  intention  of  sailing  this  fall,  or  I  would 
certainly  have  met  you  in  New- York.  I  most  sincerely 
wish  you  a  good  voyage,  and  a  speedy  return  to  this 
country  ;  and,  if  it  is  in  the  policy  of  the  great  ones  to 
keep  any  ship  on  this  station,  that  you  may  come  out 
in  one  to  your  liking.  I  can  at  present  write  nothing 
that  can  be  new  to  you,  so  soon  after  your  departure, 
excepting  that  I  have  heard  the  New-York  Assembly 


94  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

have  at  last  exactly  complied  with  the  billetting  Act,  and 
that  the  Bill  for  that  purpose  is  accepted  by  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council ;  wherefore,  I  am  in  hopes  that  we 
shall  now  live  in  peace  on  that  subject. 

"  I  should  be  glad  you  would  bring  out  for  me  Lord 
Littleton's  New  History  of  Henry  VII. ;  a  very  good 
spying-glass,  or  refracting  telescope ;  a  neat,  plain  ba- 
rometer, and  a  thermometer  with  graduations  more  ex- 
tensive, and  tube  longer  than  they  are  commonly  made, 
as  our  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  often  either  fill  the  tube 
or  sink  the  mercury  into  the  ball. 

"  Ten  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Cherokees  are  arrived  at 
New-York  from  Carolina,  on  their  way  to  Sir  William 
Johnson's,  where  they  expect  to  conclude  a  treaty  of 
peace  with  the  Six  Nations.  Rogers*  is  playing  the  devil 
at  Michilimackinack. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  following  letter  relates  to  the  claims  of  the  Earl 
of  Perth  as  a  Proprietor  of  East  Jersey.  It  would  seem 
that  some  misunderstanding  had  arisen  between  that  no- 
bleman and  Lord  Stirling ;  which  could  not,  however, 
have  been  of  any  long  duration,  as  the  latter  was  not  long 
afterwards  upon  terms  of  intimacy  with  Lord  Drum- 
mond,  the  son  and  heir  of  Lord  Perth,  who  came  to  this 
country  to  look  after  his  father's  affairs,  and  who,  as  will 
be  seen  hereafter,  applied  to  Lord  Stirling  to  assist  him 
in  a  serious  difficulty  in  which  he  became  involved  at  an 
early  period  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  8 

*  Major    Robert    Rogers,   of    New  though  he  started  thence  with  the  inten- 

Hampshire,  an   active  partisan   officer,  tion  of  going  to   Michilimackinack,  he 

commanding     a     corps     of    Rangers,  was  obliged  to  abandon  the  attempt  on 

About  Dec.  1st  he  had  taken  possession  account  of  the  ice. 
of  the  French  fortress  at  Detroit.     Al- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  95 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  William  Smith,  Jr.  Esq.* 

"  Baskenridge,  October  18th,  1768. 

"  My  Dear  Sir, — In  consequence  of  what  I  informed 
you  in  my  last  I  had  written  to  Mr.  Kelly,  I  had  a  meet- 
ing with  Lord  Drummond  and  him  at  Elizabeth  town, 
by  their  appointment,  on  Monday  the  10th  instant. 
They  showed  me  all  the  opinions  except  yours,  on  the 
controversy  between  the  Earl  of  Perth  and  the  Assignees 
of  Sonmans.  This  I  understood  to  be  the  express  and 
sole  intent  of  the  meeting,  and,  as  Surveyor-General, 
I  read  those  opinions  purely  in  the  intention  of  being 
instructed  in  the  duty  of  my  office  ;  yet  I  found  after- 
wards that  they  expected  that  those  opinions  would  have 
had  some  influence  on  me  with  regard  to  the  merits  of  the 
controversy,  and  seemed  to  wonder  that  I  did  not  imme- 
diately make  some  proposition  towards  giving  the  claim 
against  Lord  Perth  quietly  up.  I  had  so  little  idea  of 
this  being  any  part  of  the  intention  of  the  meeting,  that 
1  never  consulted  the  gentlemen  concerned  against  Lord 
Perth  on  it,  in  this  view  of  the  matter,  and  consequently 
could  have  no  power  to  make  any  propositions,  nor  any 
right  to  deliver  an  opinion  on  the  merits.  Had  I  been 
alone  in  the  controversy,  I  would  freely  have  told  them 
my  sentiments. 

"  I  found  also,  from  Mr.  Kelly,  that  Lord  Perth  is 
much  exasperated  against  me  for  the  part  I  have  acted 
in  this  matter.  If  it  is  as  Surveyor-General,  my  answrer 
is,  that  I  have  only  obeyed  orders  which  I  conceive  the 
duties  of  my  office  obliges  me  to  obey  ; — if  as  a  party 
claiming  against  his  Lordship,  I  have  only  joined  in 

*  The  son  of  the  historian,  afterwards    Peace  of  1783 — when  he  was  transferred 
Chief  Justice  of  New- York,  until  the    to  Canada. 


96  THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING. 

measures  advised  by  eminent  Counsel  as  proper  to  pre- 
serve an  estate  which  they  supposed  we  had  an  equita- 
ble title  to, — and  this  I  conceive  every  man  has  a  right 
to  do  without  deserving  censure.  However,  as  I  have  a 
great  regard  for  several  gentlemen  who  are  mutual 
friends  of  Lord  Perth  and  myself,  and  as  I  am  desirous 
that  the  censorious  part  of  the  world  shall  not  have  it  in 
their  power  to  say  that  my  behaviour  in  this  matter  is 
swayed  by  interest,  I  came  to  a  determination  to  be  no 
longer  concerned  therein  against  his  Lordship,  and  have 
accordingly  totally  and  bona  fide  divested  myself  of  all 
claim,  right  or  title  to  the  half- propriety  in  controversy, 
by  a  conveyance  thereof  to  John  Stevens  and  Walter 
Rutherfurd,  by  whom  I  was  first  invested  with  a  part  of 
that  claim,  and  I  hope  my  Lord  Perth  and  his  friends 
will  no  longer  suppose  that  I  act  partially  to  the  con- 
cerned. 

"  Mr.  Kelly  also  alluded  to  a  report  which,  among 
other  misrepresentations,  1  have  reason  to  believe,  has 
reached  the  ears  of  Lord  Perth,  to  wit,  that  R.  H.  Mor- 
ris and  myself,  being  parties  concerned,  sat  at  Council 
in  judgment  on  my  Lord  Perth's  first  receiving  his  war- 
rant on  this  half-propriety.  But  the  truth  is,  we  were 
neither  of  us  interested  at  that  time,  nor  expected  to  be  ; 
but  became  so  in  the  remainder  of  Sonman's  estate  many 
months  afterwards.  Had  the  advice  I  then  gave,  of 
granting  the  warrants  to  the  heirs  or  assigns  of  Lord 
Melford,  been  adhered  to,  this  controversy  would  long 
since  have  been  determined  ; — for,  on  the  first  location 
of  them,  a  suit  might  have  arisen,  which  would  have 
brought  the  matter  to  a  speedy  issue.  But  enough  of 
this.     Believe  me  that 

"  I  am,  &c." 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  97 

About  this  time  Lord  Stirling  appears  to  have 
given  up  his  house  in  New-York,  and  thenceforward  to 
have  resided  altogether  in  New  Jersey.  He  continued, 
in  his  retreat  at  Baskenridge,  his  former  course  of  life, 
combining  with  his  private  occupations,  the  duties  of  his 
public  stations. 

It  was  at  this  period  that  an  event  occurred,  which 
caused  much  excitement  among  the  people,  and  great  un- 
easiness to  the  Government  of  New  Jersey.  In  July, 
1768,  Stephen  Skinner,  Treasurer  of  the  eastern  division 
of  the  Province,  reported  to  the  Governor,  that  the  iron 
chest  in  which  he  kept  the  public  money,  had  been  rob- 
bed of  more  than  six  thousand  pounds.  All  attempts  to 
discover  the  robbers  were  in  vain.  The  subject  engaged 
the  attention  of  the  Legislature,  and  was  warmly  dis- 
cussed at  several  sessions,  without  arriving  at  any  con- 
clusion as  to  the  guilty  parties.  At  length  a  resolution 
was  passed  by  the  Assembly,  declaring  that  the  robbery 
happened  through  the  negligence  of  the  Treasurer.  In 
order  to  exculpate  himself,  that  functionary  made  new 
and  greater  exertions  to  discover  the  criminals ;  and  it 
seems  that  his  suspicions  had  for  some  time  rested  on 
one  Samuel  Ford,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  who  had 
married  and  settled  in  New  Jersey.  The  result  of 
these  efforts  proved  that  his  suspicions  were  not  un- 
founded. 

Ford  had  previously  resided  in  the  City  of  New- 
York,  where  he  had  once  been  apprehended  on  a  charge 
of  uttering  forged  bills  of  credit,  purporting  to  have  been 
issued  by  the  Province  of  New  Jersey.  On  that  occa- 
sion he  was  admitted  to  bail ;  but  no  further  proceedings 
were  had  against  him.  Immediately  upon  his  release, 
he  made  arrangements  for  carrying  on  the  trade  upon  a 

7 


98  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

more  extensive  scale,  and  for  that  purpose,  removed  to 
New  Jersey,  and  established  his  manufactory  in  a  seclu- 
ded spot  near  Hanover,  in  the  County  of  Morris.  He 
there  formed  a  connection  with  one  Joseph  Richardson ; 
and,  after  some  abortive  attempts  at  imitating  the  bills 
of  New- York  and  New  Jersey,  the  two  accomplices  re- 
paired to  Ireland,  in  consequence  of  hearing  that  the  art 
of  counterfeiting  had  been  brought  to  great  perfection  in 
Dublin.  Not  satisfied  with  their  improvement  in  that 
school,  they  crossed  the  channel,  and  visited  London, 
and  the  chief  manufacturing  towns  in  England,  in  order 
more  fully  to  inform  themselves  of  its  mysteries.  In 
1772  they  returned  to  America,  and  commenced  opera- 
tions by  a  new  emission  of  bills  in  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey  ;  and  succeeded  so  well  as  to  escape  de- 
tection for  a  year  or  more. 

Ford  was  a  person  of  much  low  cunning  and  some 
address  ;  and  had  art  enough  to  persuade  several  indi- 
viduals of  respectable  connections  in  New  Jersey,  to  aid 
in  the  circulation  of  his  spurious  currency.  The  dis- 
covery that  a  quantity  of  these  bills  had  been  suddenly 
thrown  into  circulation,  alarmed  the  community,  and 
excited  the  vigilance  of  the  civil  authority ;  but  the 
guilty  parlies  for  a  long  time  eluded  detection.  The 
suspicion  of  the  public,  however,  fell  naturally  upon 
Ford.  It  was  well  known  that  he  possessed  no  visible 
means  of  livelihood  but  a  neglected  and  unproductive 
farm ;  and  that,  although  he  led  an  idle  life,  he  had  al- 
ways the  command  of  money.  These  circumstances, 
in  connection  with  the  former  charge  against  him,  led  to 
his  arrest.  Not  long  after  his  commitment  to  prison, 
with  the  assistance  of  one  John  King,  a  subordinate 
confederate,  he  effected  his  escape,  and,  in  company  with 
King  and  Richardson,  fled  to  the  western  wilderness. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  99 

Several  of  the  persons  who  had  aided  Ford  in  the 
circulation  of  his  bills,  were  subsequently  arrested  ;  and 
bills  of  indictment  were  found  in  the  County  of  Morris 
against  Doctor  Barnabas  Budd,  Samuel  Haynes,  David 
Reynolds,  and  Benjamin  Cooper,  who  severally  pleaded 
not  guilty  to  the  charge.  Another  individual  of  the  name 
of  Ayres,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  who  had  hitherto 
maintained  a  fair  character,  was  also  implicated  ;  but,  as 
his  offence  was  committed  in  another  county,  he  was 
not  indicted  with  the  others.  Subsequently,  however, 
he  confessed  his  guilt ;  but  whether  he  was  sentenced 
or  pardoned,  does  not  appear.  Budd,  Haynes,  Reynolds, 
and  Cooper,  were  condemned  to  death  ;  but  Reynolds, 
who  had  furnished  the  types,  alone  was  executed.  The 
respectability  of  the  connections  of  the  others  enabled 
them  to  bring  an  influence  to  bear,  which  proved  power- 
ful enough  to  procure  their  pardon. 

Reynolds,  before  his  conviction,  had  testified  that  on 
one  occasion,  when  in  want  of  money,  Ford  promised  to 
procure  it  for  him ;  and  at  the  same  time  showed  him 
a  package  of  bills,  which  he  gave  Reynolds  to  under- 
stand had  been  obtained  by  robbing  the  Treasury.  He 
afterwards  saw  Ford  cutting  up  sheets  of  bills ;  and,  as 
the  counterfeit  bills  had  been  printed  separately,  this 
circumstance  was  deemed  conclusive  evidence  that  the 
bills  in  sheets  had  been  obtained  surreptitiously,  before 
their  regular  emission.  Cooper,  in  his  first  confession, 
said  nothing  of  the  robbery ;  but  he  afterwards  swore 
that  Ford  had  made  known  to  him  all  the  circumstances, 
and  acknowledged  that  he  had  committed  it  with  the 
assistance  of  two  soldiers  from  the  garrison  of  Amtjoy. 

As  Governor  Franklin  had  been  much  censured  for 
not  taking  measures  for  recovering  the  sum  abstracted 


100  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

from  the  Treasury,  on  the  ground  of  his  negligence,  these 
confessions  of  Reynolds  and  Cooper  were  pressed  by 
him  on  the  attention  of  the  Assembly,  at  its  next  session, 
as  exculpating  the  Treasurer,  and  affording  a  sufficient 
excuse  for  the  lenity  extended  to  him  :  but  without  ef- 
fect. The  Governor's  conduct  in  relation  to  the  Stamp- 
Act  had  deprived  him  of  the  confidence  of  the  people, 
and  produced  the  election  to  the  Assembly  of  a  majority 
opposed  to  him.  In  this  affair  of  the  Treasury,  the  opr 
position  members  put  forth  their  whole  strength  against 
him.  A  committee,  to  whom  the  subject  had  been  re- 
ferred, made  a  Report  exculpating  Ford,  and  charging 
the  Treasurer  himself  with  the  robbery.  This  Report 
was  concurred  in  by  the  House ;  and  a  long  and  angry 
correspondence  ensued  between  the  Governor  and  the 
Assembly  as  to  the  proper  course  to  be  pursued  in  order 
to  bring  the  Treasurer  to  trial.  The  Governor  was  sup- 
ported thus  far,  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  his  Council, 
including  Lord  Stirling,  although,  since  the  Stamp-Act, 
at  the  head  of  the  political  opposition  to  his  administra- 
tion. The  dispute  ended  by  the  resignation  of  the 
Treasurer,  and  the  appointment  of  a  successor  with  au- 
thority to  bring  a  suit  to  recover  the  lost  money." 

In  this  controversy,  both  parties  displayed  great  per- 
verseness.  The  Governor  was,  as  usual,  violent  and 
undignified ;  his  opponents,  disrespectful  and  unrea- 
sonable ;  and  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  decide  which 
party  was  most  to  blame,  had  not  the  Governor  after- 
wards called  the  Ex-Treasurer  to  his  Council,  in  con- 
tempt of  the  opinions  of  a  large  majority  of  the  people. 
The*  subject  was  canvassed  in  the  public  newspapers 
after  it  had  ceased  to  be  discussed  in  the  Assembly ;  and 
never,  perhaps,  did  party  spirit  rage  with  greater  violence 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  J  Q£ 

under  the  Colonial  Government,  or  a  Provincial  Legisla- 
ture exist  more  decidedly  opposed  to  the  immediate  repre- 
sentative of  the  Crown.  The  opposition  on  this  question 
was  eventually  merged  in  the  far  more  serious  dispute 
provoked  by  those  measures  of  the  mother-country  which 
led  to  the  overthrow  of  her  authority  not  merely  in  New 
Jersey,  but  in  all  the  Colonies.  The  robbery  of  the 
Provincial  Treasury,  the  counterfeiters,  and  all  the  cir- 
cumstances which  had  caused  so  much  agitation,  were 
speedily  forgotten  ;  the  Ex-Treasurer  adhered  to  the 
Royal  cause  ;  the  suit  against  him  was  never  brought  to 
a  close ;  Ford  and  his  accomplices  were  no  more  heard 
of;  and,  to  the  last,  as  much  doubt  was  entertained  by 
many,  as  to  the  guilt  of  the  several  parties  accused  of 
the  robbery,  as  existed  at  the  time  of  its  discovery * 

The  following  letter  from  one  of  the  accomplices, 
who  had  been  in  the  employ  of  Lord  Stirling,  was  ad- 
dressed to  him  after  the  writer  had  been  convicted  as  an 
accessory  to  the  forgeries,  and  shortly  before  the  day 
fixed  for  his  execution.  In  this  case,  it  is  more  probable 
that  the  interposition  of  Lord  Stirling,  in  consequence  of 
this  letter,  and  the  former  good  character  of  the  convict, 
procured  his  pardon,  than  the  influence  of  his  family. 

Benjamin  Cooper  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"Morristown,  N.  J.,  September  7th,  1773. 

"  My  Lord, — I  am  here  confined  and  sentenced  to 
die  for  a  crime  in  itself  dreadful ;  but  I  had  but  little  to 

The  author    is   indebted  for  these  is   manifest    in   his   "  History    of  East 

particulars  to  William   A.   Whitehead,  Jersey" — presented  by  him  to  the   His- 

Esq.,   of  Newark,  whose   familiar   ac-  torical  Society  of  the  State,  and  publish- 

quaintance  with  our  Colonial  antiquities  ed  as  the  first  volume  of  their  Collections. 


102  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

do  with  it.  I  will  give  an  exact  account  to  you  of  all  1 
ever  did. 

"  In  the  spring  of  1771,  at  the  close  of  the  accounts 
belonging  to  the  Hibernia  Company,  at  your  house, 
Samuel  Ford  and  many  others  met  at  Daniel  Cooper's, 
in  order  to  settle  and  sign  my  letter  of  license  ;  at  which 
time  Ford  was  to  lend  two  hundred  pounds,  to  be  appro- 
priated to  the  use  of  the  Company.  Shortly  afterwards, 
he  called  me  to  Morristown,  where  he  told  me  first  of 
the  villainous  scheme  of  passing  bad  money.  My  neces- 
sities, distressed  to  distraction,  led  me  into  it.  There 
I  received  between  thirty  and  forty  pounds  of  what  he 
called  counterfeit  money,  which  was  passed  by  John 
King  and  Samuel  Haines.  This  was  the  first.  1  after- 
wards had  a  further  parcel.  This  I  burned,  conceiving 
myself  wrong.  1  never  had  any  more  ;  determined  and 
resolved  I  would  quit  it ;  and  if  I  had  lived  to  the  year 
2000,  should  not  by  any  means  had  any  further  hand. 
This  is  all  in  one  week,  in  the  year  1771.  Two  of  the 
Judges,  one  of  which  was  my  father,  and  one  other  that 
he  can  inform  you  who  it  was,  promised  me  I  should 
never  have  it  mentioned  further  than  as  an  evidence,  if  I 
would  give  a  narration  of  such  as  was  concerned  in  coun- 
terfeiting and  passing,  if  any  I  could.  On  these  pro- 
mises I  gave  the  account  that  the  Judge  lays  before  the 
Governor  and  Council.  It  was  at  the  bottom  I  gave  it, 
that  I  had  received  and  passed ;  but  here  you  have  all — 
the  whole. 

"  I  was  indicted,  and  to  this  confessed  guilty  of 
uttering.  I  then  see  death,  of  course.  I  was  also  in- 
dicted for  aiding  ;  and  the  Judge  said  it  was  useless  to 
plead  not  guilty.  This  I  did  ;  however,  I  knowed  nothing 
of  the  making  or  any  thing  belonging  to  it,  excepting 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  ]03 

the  paper.  I  see  it  going  to  him.  This  was  all  I  knowed 
about  the  whole.  This  is  the  substance,  as  near  as  I  can 
recollect.  I  have  just  to  beg  your  Lordship's  interest 
and  influence  with  the  Governor  and  Council  for  me,  if 
you  can  do  it  consistent  with  honour,  or  as  far  as  may 
be.     This  I  would  be  extremely  obliged  to  you  for. 

"  Several  deeds  ought  to  be  made  to  you  by  me, 
and  many  things  you  are  a  stranger  to,  I  fear,  by  which 
you  will  suffer,  that  otherwise  you  would  not,  had  I  not 
been  called  hence.  But  God's  will  be  done.  I  am  en- 
deavouring to  prepare  for  the  world  to  come.  It  is  my 
chief  aim  now — I  believe  it  is  time — I  fear  1  am  to  de- 
part. I  have  no  one  but  your  Lordship  to  place  the 
least  dependence  on  ;  and  this  only  from  your  natural 
humane,  benevolent  disposition  towards  all  mankind. 
Here  only,  I  hope  for  your  interest,  which  if  properly 
obtained  and  applied,  no  doubt  would  lengthen  my  days. 
Many  things  in  the  course  of  my  perplexity  I  could  say 
more  respecting  your  interest,  as  also  my  present  situa- 
tion. Now  I  pray  you  only,  my  good  Lord,  if  you  can 
possibly  do  me  any  service  in  this  present  situation  of 
mine.     Grant  me  your  aid  for  God's  sake. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

"  P.  S.  I  was  indicted  for  aiding  Ford,  when  I  left 
you  at  Hibernia,  and  went  with  my  family  to  Hunter- 
don Ford  was  taken  while  you  was  at  the  works. 
I  left  you  on  Saturday  morning  ;  I  returned  the  Friday 
following.  I  had  reason  to  think  he  was  in  the  woods. 
Miss  Odle  asked  me  to  give  her  a  hat  and  shirt :  I  did, 
and  it  was  for  Ford.  However,  I  did  not  know  posi- 
tively who  it  was  for,  but  by  suspicion.  For  this  alone 
and  all  the  aid  I  gave  I  was  indicted,  and  was  advised 


104  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

by  Isaac  Ogden  to  plead  guilty.  My  crimes,  for  which 
I  am  condemned,  if  they  were  all  known,  would  not 
appear  so  bad." 

The  following  correspondence  between  the  late  Colo- 
nel Samuel  Ogden  of  Newark,  and  Lord  Stirling,  prob- 
ably grew  out  of  some  interference,  on  the  part  of  the 
former,  in  relation  to  Ford  and  his  accomplices,  upon 
which  Lord  Stirling  thought  proper  to  ground  a  charge 
before  the  Council,  which  he  afterwards  withdrew,  for 
some  good  reason  that  does  not  appear,  but  renewed  upon 
being  urged  by  Colonel  Ogden  to  do  so. 

Colonel  Samuel  Ogden  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling, 

"  Burlington,  December  3rd,  1773. 

"  My  Lord, — I  am  informed  that  you,  some  days 
past,  exhibited  to  the  Governor  and  Council  now  sitting 
at  this  place,  a  charge  against  Samuel  Tuthill,  Esq.,  and 
myself,  greatly  impeaching  and  reflecting  on  Mr.  Tut- 
hill's  and  my  characters  as  gentlemen,  and  magistrates 
in  the  execution  of  our  offices,  by  taking  several  depo- 
sitions partially  and  unfairly,  and  by  suppressing  the 
testimony  of  witnesses  material  for  bringing  certain 
criminals  to  justice. 

"  Your  Lordship  is  not  unacquainted  with  my  re- 
peated applications  to  the  Governor  and  Council  to  have 
a  hearing  before  them,  on  the  several  matters  wherewith 
Mr.  Tuthill  and  myself  were  accused,  and  they  have 
been  refused  by  reason  that  said  charges  were  not  before 
them.  From  the  above  state  of  the  matters,  I  hope  you 
will  think  that  the  request  I  now  make,  viz.,  that  you 
do  re-enter  on  the  minutes  of  the  Board  that  charge 
expunged  without  Mr.  Tuthill's  or  my  consent,  is  con- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  105 

sistent  with  honour  and  common  justice  in  your  Lord- 
ship to  grant,  and  me  to  ask.  Your  immediate  answer 
will  much  oblige. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Colonel  Samuel  Ogden. 

"  Burlington,  December  3rd,  1773. 

"  Sir, — I  received  your  letter  of  this  day's  date  while 
I  was  at  dinner  at  the  Governor's,  or  I  would  have  ac- 
knowledged it  immediately  by  a  written  message. 

"  Upon  perusing  your  letter  I  find  that  you  request 
that  I  should  re-enter  upon  the  minutes  of  the  Council 
a  certain  charge  against  you  and  Samuel  Tuthill,  Esq. 
As  this  is  a  matter  which  would  counteract  a  measure 
of  the  Governor  and  Council,  which  they  went  into  for 
reasons  to  them  appearing  of  public  utility,  I  conceived 
it  my  duty  to  lay  your  letter  before  them,  and  to  inquire 
of  them,  whether  the  same  reasons  still  hold  good  in 
their  opinion  ;  and  as,  on  consulting  them,  I  find  it  their 
opinion  that  the  same  reasons  do  hold,  I  cannot  think 
myself  at  liberty  to  reinstate  the  charge.  But,  Sir,  if 
you  think  any  conduct  of  mine,  which,  in  my  station  as 
one  of  the  Council  of  this  Province,  I  conceived  it  my 
duty  to  go  into,  injurious  to  your  character,  I  am  willing 
to  join  you  in  any  proper  measure,  consistent  with  my 
duty  to  the  Board,  to  do  you  justice,  and  fairly  to  try 
whether  any  charge  I  have  exhibited  against  you  is 
well  founded  or  not,  provided  it  be  done  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, and  during  the  present  session  of  the  Legislature. 

"  I  am  under  an  engagement  to  set  out  for  Philadel- 
phia to-morrow  morning,  and  intend  to  return  to  this 
place  on  Monday  or  Tuesday  next. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


106  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

Colonel  Samuel  Ogden  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Burlington,  December  4th,  1773. 

"  My  Lord, — On  reading  jour  Lordship's  letter  in 
answer  to  mine  of  yesterday,  I  find  your  Lordship  re- 
fuses to  grant  the  request  made  you  lest  you  might 
thereby  counteract  a  measure  of  the  Governor  and 
Council,  which  they  went  into  for  reasons  to  them  ap- 
pearing of  public  utility,  and  that  you  had  therefore  con- 
ceived it  your  duty  to  lay  my  letter  before  them,  and  to 
inquire  of  them,  whether  the  same  reasons  in  their 
opinion  still  hold  good  ;  and  as  on  consulting  them  you 
found  it  their  opinion  that  the  same  reasons  do  still  hold 
good,  you  could  not  feel  yourself  at  liberty  to  reinstate 
the  charge.  Your  Lordship  soon  after  says  that  you  are 
willing  to  join  me  in  any  measure,  consistent  with  your 
duty  to  the  Board,  to  do  me  justice,  and  fairly  to  try 
whether  the  charge  exhibited  against  me  was  well 
founded  or  not,  provided  it  be  done  immediately  and 
during  the  present  session  of  the  Legislature.  This 
last  offer,  and  its  being  done  immediately,  I  am  not  so 
happy  as  to  reconcile  with  the  former  part  of  your  letter. 

"  I  must  beg  leave  to  inform  your  Lordship,  that  as 
an  innocent  man,  I  do  consider  my  reputation  and  hon- 
our much  injured  by  your  exhibiting  said  complaint 
against  me ;  and  as  the  same  was  withdrawn  without 
my  consent,  I  cannot  help  asking  of  your  Lordship  a 
copy  thereof,  and  your  reasons  for  withdrawing  the  same  ; 
and  whether  you  did  withdraw  it  upon  such  terms 
as  left  any  stain  on  my  honour,  or  imputation  of  guilt  to 
my  charge  ?  I  must  beg  your  Lordship  will  be  very 
explicit  in  answering  the  above ;  and  that  you  will  do 
the  same  as  expeditiously  as  possible, — it  being  an  affair 
of  the  most  delicate  nature,  and  of  the  greatest  impor- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  ]  Q7 

tance  to  me,  and  what  alone  brought  me  to  this  town, 
and  hath  detained  me  here  for  several  days  past,  of  which 
your  Lordship  must  be  sensible. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Same  to  the  Same. 

"  Burlington,  11  o'clock  Saturday  morning. 

"  My  Lord, — Your  Lordship's  answer*  to  my  letter 
of  this  morning  I  just  now  received,  but  as  I  am  unlucki- 
ly obliged  now  to  attend  a  Committee  of  the  House 
of  Assembly,  have  it  not  in  my  power  to  answer  it.  As 
soon  as  they  dismiss  me,  I  will  send  your  Lordship  such 
answer  in  writing  as  shall  become  a  gentleman  and  man 
of  honour,  and  hope  your  Lordship  will  defer  setting  out 
for  Philadelphia. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Colonel  Samuel  Ogden. 

"  Saturday  morn,  near  12  o'clock. 

"  Lord  Stirling  has  already  twice  informed  Colonel 
Ogden  that  he  is  engaged  to  be  in  Philadelphia  to-day  ; 
and  he  does  not  conceive  that  any  request  from  Colonel 
Ogden  should  induce  him  to  break  that  engagement. 
But  if  Colonel  Ogden  conceives  the  business  he  has  to 
transact  with  Lord  Stirling  requires  such  immediate  des- 
patch, he  may  call  on  Lord  Stirling  in  Philadelphia, 
where  he  expects  to  be  for  two  or  three  days. 

Colonel  Samuel  Ogden  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"Burlington,  Saturday  morning. 

"My  Lord, — Finding  it  rather  uncertain  as  to  the 
day  when  you  will  be  in  Philadelphia,  and  being  obliged 

*  This  answer  does  not  appear,  but   its   contents  may  be  surmised  from   the 
subsequent  part  of  the  correspondence. 


108  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

to  return  to  East  Jersey  without  any  longer  delay,  I  do 
inform  your  Lordship,  as  you  are"  pleased  to  say  you  are 
"  no  Councillor  in  Philadelphia,"  I  presume  the  same  will 
hold  good  in  New-York,  and  upon  my  being  informed  of 
your  Lordship's  being  there,  you  may  be  assured  I  will 
renew  my  demand,  which  I  can  but  think  reasonable. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Colonel  Samuel  Ogden. 

"Burlington,  December  11th,  1773. 

"  Lord  Stirling  was  desirous  of  giving  Colonel  Ogden 
every  reasonable  satisfaction  in  his  power,  and  therefore 
proposed  a  conference  for  that  purpose  on  the  4th  in- 
stant. But  the  contemptuous  neglect  which  Colonel 
Ogden  has  shown  to  that  offer,  renders  his  acceptance  of 
it  at  present  impossible.  Besides,  there  are  some  expres- 
sions in  the  last  letter  which  Lord  Stirling  received  from 
Colonel  Ogden  on  the  4th  instant,  which  must  be  fully 
explained,  before  it  can  be  proper  for  them  to  meet  on 
business  of  that  nature." 

The  following  seems  to  relate  to  the  same  subject. 
Elisha  Boudinot,  Esq.*  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Newark,  27th  January,  1774. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — I  received  yours  of  the  15th 
instant,  concerning  the  report  that  is  prevailing  relative 
to  the  transactions  before  the  Council,  &c.  I  believe 
one  of  its  greatest  springs  took  its  rise  at  the  last  Morris 
Court ;  but,  as  you  cannot  be  at  a  loss  to  find  out  the 
origin  of  it  there,  shall  be  silent  on  that  head. 

*  Afterwards  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  109 

"  A  few  days  after  I  returned  from  Morris,  I  was  at 
my  brother's*  at  Elizabethtown,  who  was  mentioning  the 
subject,  and  much  in  the  same  manner  it  had  been  re- 
lated at  Morris  ;  and  he  said  he  heard  Mr.  Hoffman 
telling  the  story  at  Mr.  Lott's  in  New-York.  This  is  as 
true  and  as  straight  an  account  as  I  can  get  of  it. 

"  With  regard  to  the  appointment  of  a  certain  Jus- 
tice, as  your  Lordship  was  so  polite  as  to  promise  me 
your  assistance  in  it,  if  when  you  are  at  Council  you 
should  not  think  there  was  a  great  probability  of  carrying 
it  through,  notwithstanding  the  opposition  of  a  particular 
gentleman,  I  would  rather  it  should  not  be  mentioned, 
as  a  repulse  would  be  rather  mortifying,  especially  from 
that  quarter.  I  have  wrote  to  Mr.  Stockton  on  the 
subject,  and  should  be  glad  your  Lordship  would  mention 
it  to  him  when  you  see  him  at  Burlington.  If  it  could 
be  accomplished,  it  would  give  me  real  pleasure,  and 
would  greatly  chagrin  some  other  persons,  as  a  gentleman 
in  office,  of  an  independent  spirit,  does  not  coincide  with 
their  views. 

"  If  any  thing  that  is  in  my  power  can  at  any  time 
be  of  the  least  service  to  your  Lordship,  you  may  freely 
command  me. 

"I  am,  &c." 

Governor  Franklin  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Philadelphia,  May  3rd,  1774. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — Your  letter  of  the  26th  of  last 
month  is  just  delivered  to  me  at  this  place,  where  I  am  on 
a  visit.     It  gives  me  great  concern  to  rind  the  affair  be- 

*  Elias  Boudinot,  who  was  afterwards  House  of  Representatives  under  the  pres- 

a  delegate  from  New  Jersey,  and  Presi-  ent  Federal  Constitution — and   the  first 

dent  of  Congress  under  the  Confedera-  Director   of    the    Mint    of  the    United 

tion  ;  subsequently  a  member  of  the  first  States. 


HO  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

tween  your  Lordship  and  Colonel  Ogden  is  not  jet 
settled.  I  was  in  hopes  from  what  I  had  said  to  some 
of  his  friends,  and  from  what  had  passed  between  your 
Lordship  and  me,  as  well  as  from  some  other  circum- 
stances, that  your  differences  would  have  soon  after  ter- 
minated in  a  happy  accommodation.  As  that,  however, 
is  not  the  case,  and  your  Lordship  has  thought  proper 
to  renew  the  charge  against  Colonel  Ogden,  I  shall 
take  the  first  opportunity  of  laying  it  before  the  Council. 
"  The  Chief  Justice*  and  Mr.  Stockton  will  pro- 
bably be  at  Burlington  next  week,  when  I  shall  be  able 
to  get  a  sufficient  number  to  form  a  Council ;  but  I  do 
not  believe  they  would  proceed  to  hear  the  merits,  even 
if  all  the  parties  were  present  at  that  time,  unless  the 
East  Jersey  members  of  Council  were  likewise  present. 
The  West  Jersey  members  refused,  for  the  like  reason, 
to  determine  at  the  last  meeting  any  thing  respecting 
Colonel  Ford's  conduct.  Judge  Ogdenf  will  of  course 
not  sit  in  this  business ;  and  as  Colonel  Ogden  intimates 
that  he  intends  bringing  the  affair  before  a  Court  of 
Judicature,  perhaps  Mr.  Chief  Justice  and  Mr.  Stocktonf 
may  on  that  account  likewise  object  to  being  present  at 
any  hearing  or  determination  on  the  subject,  before  the 
Council.  It  will  therefore  be  proper  that  some  time 
should  be  fixed  when  Mr.  Kemble,  Mr.  Parker,  and  Mr. 
Skinner^  can  attend.  Your  Lordship  may  depend  upon 
receiving  early  notice  of  the  determination  of  the  Coun- 
cil in  this  respect. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

*  Frederick  Smyth.  preceding,  but  who  had  not  yet  taken 

t  David  Ogden,  a  Justice  of  the  Su-  his  seat  upon  the  bench. 

preme  Court,  N.  J.  §  Peter  Kemble,  James  Parker,  and 

t  Richard  Stockton,  appointed  a  Jus-  Stephen  Skinner. 

tice  of  the  Supreme  Court  the  February 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  j  \  y 

"  P.  S.  I  am  obliged  to  your  Lordship  respecting  the 
heads  of  inquiry  sent  over  by  Lord  Dartmouth,  though 
they  came  to  hand  too  late,  as  I  sent  my  answer  to  them 
about  a  month  ago.  Your  notes,  however,  contain  some 
particulars  which  I  have  not  mentioned  ;  I  shall  there- 
fore take  a  copy  of  them  and  transmit  you  the  original." 

The  controversy  between  Lord  Stirling  and  Colonel 
Ogden  seems  to  have  ended  in  the  following  public 
advertisement  by  the  latter. 

"  A  Pamphlet  having  been  published  and  handed 
about  town  last  evening,  containing  a  pretended  state  of 
the  dispute  between  Lord  Stirling  and  Colonel  Ogden, 
the  Colonel  begs  of  the  Publick  that  they  will  suspend 
their  opinion,  until  the  hearing  before  the  Governor  and 
Council  is  ended,  and  he  shall  have  opportunity  and 
leisure  to  lay  his  case  fairly  before  them.  The  Colonel  re- 
marks several  misrepresentations  to  have  been  inserted 
in  the  Pamphlet,  and  he  thinks  it  necessary  to  assure 
the  Publick  that  the  letter  or  note  marked  F.  in  the 
Pamphlet,  and  dated  "  Saturday  Morn,  near  12  o'clock," 
was  never  received  by  the  Colonel ;  but  that  the  mes- 
senger at  that  time  sent  to  his  Lordship's  lodgings,  re- 
turned with  the  information  to  the  Colonel  that  his 
Lordship  had  left  neither  letter  nor  message. 

"  Amboy,  January  17th,  1775." 


CHAPTER    V. 

1774-1776. 

During  the  interval  between  the  correspondence 
with  which  the  last  Chapter  closed,  and  the  events 
which  led  immediately  to  the  Revolution,  Lord  Stirling 
continued  to  reside  at  Baskenridge,  engaged  in  his  for- 
mer occupations,  to  which,  of  late  years,  he  had  added 
the  general  superintendence  of  several  extensive  iron- 
works which  he  had  established,  principally  in  the 
County  of  Morris.  These  pursuits  were  interrupted 
only  by  occasional  visits  to  New-York,  and  the  perform- 
ance of  his  public  duties  as  Surveyor-General,  and  a 
member  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey.  Nothing  of  a 
public  or  interesting  character  appears  in  what  has  been 
preserved  of  his  correspondence  during  this  period,  until 
the  autumn  of  1775,  when  the  projects  of  the  British 
Court  again  threatened  a  rupture  between  the  mother- 
country  and  her  Colonies.  A  whig,  not  merely  from 
education,  and  early  political  associations,  but  from  the 
convictions  of  his  maturer  judgment,  Lord  Stirling 
opposed,  as  we  have  seen,  the  execution  of  the  Stamp 
Act,  and  used  whatever  of  influence  he  possessed  in 
England,  in  procuring  its  repeal;  and  he  now  withstood, 
with  similar  promptness  and  decision,  the  equally  un- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  [  13 

constitutional  expedients  adopted  as  a  substitute  for  that 
odious  measure.  Though  less  oppressive  in  its  opera- 
tion than  the  former  attempt,  the  new  project  involved 
the  same  violation  of  principle,  in  the  assertion  of  a 
power  to  tax  the  colonists  without  their  consent,  and 
was  met  by  them  in  the  same  indignant  spirit  of  resist- 
ance. When  coercion  was  resorted  to  by  Great  Britain 
to  put  down  the  open  opposition  in  Massachusetts,  Lord 
Stirling  was  among  the  first  in  the  other  Provinces  to 
take  up  arms,  in  what  he  deemed  the  common  cause. 
From  the  military  experience  he  had  acquired  early  in 
life,  not  less  than  from  his  local  influence  and  personal 
popularity,  he  was  chosen  to  command  the  first  regiment 
of  militia,  raised  by  the  authority  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, in  the  county  in  which  he  resided.  On  being  in- 
formed that  he  had  accepted  the  appointment,  Governor 
Franklin,  in  summoning  Lord  Sterling  to  a  meeting  of 
the  Council,  directed  his  Secretary  to  inquire  whether 
the  report  he  had  heard  of  his  acceptance  were  true. 
To  this  demand,  the  following  answer  was  returned. 

The  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Governor  Franklin. 

"  Baskenridge,  September  14th,  1775. 

"  Sir, — I  have  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Pettit, 
dated  the  7th  instant,  informing  me  that  your  Excel- 
lency has  appointed  a  Council  to  be  held  at  Amboy  the 
15th  instant,  and  that  my  attendance  is  expected.  The 
gout,  which  at  present  is  my  constant  companion,  will 
render  it  impossible  for  me  to  go  from  home  at  that  time, 
and  therefore  I  hope  your  Excellency  will  be  able  to 
dispense  with  my  attendance. 

"  In  the  same  letter,  Mr.  Pettit  informs  me  that  he 
has  it  in  command  from  your  Excellency,  to  acquaint 

8 


I  J  4  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

me  that  it  is  a  matter  of  public  report,  that  I  have  ac- 
cepted a  Commission  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
New  Jersey,  appointing  me  to  the  command  of  a  regi- 
ment of  militia  in  the  County  of  Somerset,  and  that 
your  Excellency  requires  an  answer  from  me  whether 
I  *  have,  or  have  not,  accepted  such  commission  ?' 

"  I  must  acknowledge,  Sir,  that  the  style  and  man- 
ner in  which  this  inquiry  is  made,  a  good  deal  surprises 
me ;  especially  as  I  have  ever  been  used  to  experience 
from  your  Excellency,  the  behaviour  becoming  a  gentle- 
man in  your  exalted  station.  That  you  could  think  of 
commanding  your  Clerk  to  correspond  with  me  on  so 
delicate  a  subject,  or  to  catechise  me  in  so  peremptory  a 
manner,  equally  astonishes  me.  However,  I  will  indulge 
your  Excellency's  curiosity. 

"  I  have  lately  been  informed  that  the  good  people 
of  this  County  have  unanimously  chosen  me  Colonel  of 
a  regiment  of  militia  ;  that  the  Congress  of  this  Prov- 
ince have  approved  of  the  choice,  and  have  issued  a 
commission  accordingly, — which  I  have, received.  This 
mark  of  the  confidence  of  the  people  among  whom  1  re- 
side, is  most  satisfactory,  and,  I  think,  honourable  to  me. 
To  be  thus  called  forth  at  a  time  when  their  dearest 
rights  are  invaded,  to  take  so  prominent  a  part  in  their 
defence,  cannot  but  excite  the  most  grateful  feelings  of 
one  who  has  ever  been  a  friend  of  the  liberties  of  man- 
kind ;  and  in  accepting  this  commission,  and  serving  my 
country  faithfully,  I  cannot  doubt  of  your  Excellency's 
highest  approbation,  when  I  recollect  your  frequent  pub- 
lic, as  well  as  private  declarations,  that  the  rights  of  the 
People,  and  the  prerogatives  of  the  Crown,  were  equally 
dear  to  you, — and  equally  your  duty  and  inclination  to 
preserve. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  H5 

An  angry  correspondence  ensued,  which  was  closed 
by  a  letter  from  Lord  Stirling,  concluding  with  this  sig- 
nificant passage  : — "  The  world  is  apt  to  be  censorious 
when  those  who  are  entrenched  in  office  indulge  in  of- 
fensive language  ;  and  on  this  very  occasion  there  may 
be  some  who  will  suspect  that  your  letter  would  not  have 
been  penned  in  the  style  it  is,  had  it  been  written  in  any 
other  Province  than  New  Jersey.* 

The  rebellious  Colonel — to  use  the  epithet  applied 
to  him  in  one  of  Governor  Franklin's  letters — lost  no 
time  in  organizing  and  disciplining  his  regiment ;  and 
on  the  1 8th  of  October  he  issued  orders  for  a  general 
review  and  muster  to  take  place  on  the  6th  of  Novem- 
ber ;  "  every  man  to  bring  with  him  the  best  arms  he 
can,  and  those  who  have  no  firelocks  are,  notwithstand- 
ing, desired  to  attend,  as  other  arms  will  be  furnished  for 
them."  This  was  done  at  his  private  expense  ;  but,  be- 
fore the  day  appointed  for  the  review,  Lord  Stirling  was 
transferred  to  the  command  of  the  first  of  two  regi- 
ments of  regular  troops,  directed  by  '  Congress  to  be 
raised  in  New  Jersey  for  the  continental  service,  into 
which  he  was  followed  by  several  of  the  officers  and  men 
of  his  militia  regiment. 

Upon  hearing  of  this  appointment,  Lord  Stirling  re- 
paired to  Philadelphia  to  receive  his  commission,  and 
confer  with  his  friends  in  Congress.  On  the  22d  of  No- 
vember, he  proceeded  to  Burlington  to  endeavour  to  pre- 
vail on  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  New  Jersey,  to  take 
proper  measures  to  secure  arms  for  the  two  regiments, 
and  to  get  barracks  prepared  for  their  reception.     From 


*  Gov.  Franklin's  appointment  was     See  letters  of  J.  Penn.,  and  P.  Livings- 
not  acceptable  to  the  people  of  New  Jer-     ton,  Jun.,  ante,  pp.  67,  69. 
sery,  and  his  conduct  in  office,  less  so. 


I  ]  (J  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

thence  he  visited  several  other  of  the  principal  towns  in 
the  Province,  on  the  same  errand.  He  had  little  diffi- 
culty in  obtaining  more  volunteers  for  his  own  regular 
regiment  among  the  men  who  had  served  under  him  in 
the  militia,  and  within  a  week  of  his  leaving  Philadelphia 
he  had  established  its  head-quarters  at  Elizabethtown. 

In  a  letter  to  the  President  of  Congress  written  on 
his  arrival  at  that  place,  he  complained  of  the  impedi- 
ments thrown  in  his  way  by  the  local  magistrates,  in  is- 
suing warrants  against  his  men,  upon  the  smallest  pre- 
text ;  and  suggests  to  Congress  the  expediency  of  adopt- 
ing a  rule  similar  to  one  which  had  prevailed  in  the 
Province  of  New  Jersey  during  the  former  war,  exempt- 
ing every  person  in  the  military  service  from  arrest  for 
debts  less  than  fifteen  pounds.  In  consequence  of  his 
representations,  Congress  subsequently  provided  a  simi- 
lar remedy  for  this  inconvenience. 

Whilst  engaged  in  recruiting  at  Elizabethtown,  he 
availed  himself  of  his  position  and  opportunities  to  gain 
intelligence  in  relation  to  the  British  ships  of  war  in  the 
harbour  of  New-York,  and  was  thus  enabled  more  effect- 
ually to  watch  their  motions.  The  following  letter  to 
the  President  of  Congress,  affords  evidence  of  his  vigil- 
ance, and  contains  some  hints  of  the  advantages  to  be 
derived  from  the  measures  he  had  taken. 

Colonel  the   Earl  of  Stirling  to  his  Excellency  John 

Hancock. 

"  Elizabethtown,  December  19th,  1775. 

"  Sir, — In  consequence  of  the  new  orders  published 
by  Captain  Parker,  of  the  Phenix,  since  his  arrival  at 
New-York,  all  vessels  coming  from  foreign  countries  to 
that  port,  receive  on  the  coast  orders  from  us  to  come 
into  this  Province,  and,  if  possible,  to  this  place.     Sev- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  jj-j 

eral  have  already  arrived  at  Prince's  Bay,  and  in  the 
Sound  between  this  and  Amboy.  Some  of  the  owners 
of  them,  being  apprehensive  that  the  men-of-war  at 
New7- York  may  send  their  cutters  and  boats  to  seize  and 
carry  them  off,  have  applied  to  me  for  protection.  The 
saving  a  vast  useful  property  from  falling  into  the  hands 
of  our  enemies,  must  be  right ;  and  although  I  have  no 
orders  for  it,  I  shall  give  them  every  protection  in  my 
power,  until  I  receive  orders  to  the  contrary  from  Con- 
gress. 

"  This  will,  most  probably,  draw  some  of  the  tenders 
and  smaller  ships  of  war  to  the  avenues  of  Newr-Jersey 
on  this  side.  It  will,  therefore,  be  highly  necessary  to 
have  an  immediate  supply  of  ammunition  at  this  place  ; 
and,  if  possible,  half  a  dozen  held-pieces,  with  some 
round,  grape,  and  cannister  shot.  We  might  then  hope 
to  make  them  quit  any  station  in  harbour  ;  and  the  sea- 
son of  the  year  will  soon  make  them  quit  every  other 
station. 

"  This  new  order  of  Captain  Parker's  is  in  direct 
violation  of  an  Act  of  Parliament  ;  it  alarms  and  rouses 
the  moderate,  and  sorely  vexes  the  Tories  of  New- York, 
from  their  being  obliged  to  seek  protection  here  ;  and  in 
proportion  as  their  property  will  be  lodged  among  us, 
their  pulses  will  beat,  and  their  conduct  will  be  regula- 
ted. If  this  circumstance  be  properly  managed,  I  am 
in  hopes  it  will  turn  out  a  very  fortunate  one. 

"  It  just  occurs  to  me  that  it  may  be  very  proper  that 
there  be  an  order  of  Congress  to  receive  for  the  conti- 
nental use,  all  the  ammunition  imported  in  the  vessels 
that  may  arrive  in  this  Province,  on  paying  a  moderate 
price  for  it ;  some  small  quantity  may  be  in  each  ;  and 
every  little  helps. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


118  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

In  pursuance  of  this  suggestion,  Lord  Stirling  was 
directed  by  Congress,  "  to  seize  and  secure  all  the  am- 
munition and  warlike  stores  belonging  to  the  enemy, 
which  now  are,  or  hereafter  may  be,  imported  into  the 
Colony  of  New  Jersey,  and  to  keep  them  until  he 
shall  receive  the  orders  of  Congress  respecting  them." 

The  following  letter  contains  another  proof  of  his 
watchfulness  and  foresight  on  the  subject  mentioned  in 
that  preceding  it. 


Colonel  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"Elizabethtown,  January  6th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — Having  particular  reasons  for  believing  that 
an  express  which  went  through  this  place  about  noon 
this  day  for  New- York,  was  charged  with  despatches  of 
importance  for  the  Ministry  of  Great  Britain,  I  imme- 
diately despatched  the  bearer  hereof,  Captain  Morris,  of 
my  regiment,  to  overtake  the  messenger,  which  he  did, 
at  the  second  ferry  between  this  and  New- York  ;  and 
has  this  moment  brought  back  the  messenger,  with  the 
enclosed  two  packets  directed  to  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth, which  I  think  it  most  proper  to  send  you  uno- 
pened, in  order  to  be  laid  before  Congress. 

"  Captain  Morris,  who  on  this  occasion  has  behaved 
with  great  prudence  and  alertness,  will  wait  for  what- 
ever despatches  or  commands  you  may  have  for  me. 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  several 
vessels  with  valuable  cargoes  from  foreign  ports,  have 
arrived  in  this  Province ;  and,  under  the  protection  I 
have  afforded  them,  have  landed  their  cargoes.  Among 
the  rest,  are  some  hundred  barrels  of  gun  powder. 

"  1  am,  &c.'.' 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  jjg 

"  P.  S.  After  sealing  the  above,  I  found  on  the 
messenger  some  private  letters  to  Mrs.  Gage,  which  I 
have  forwarded.  The  handwriting  of  one  of  them,  I 
knew  to  be  that  of  a  most  dangerous  man ;  and  for 
very  particular  reasons  I  was  induced  to  open  it.  I  now 
send  it  to  you." 

Having  some  reason  (derived  probably  from  the 
above  mentioned  intercepted  letter)  to  suspect  that  his 
old  friend  Governor  Franklin  meditated  an  escape  from 
the  Province,  he  directed  Lieutenant  Colonel  Winds,  who 
was  stationed  at  Amboy,  to  prevent  it.  A  correspond- 
ence thereupon  took  place  between  that  officer  and 
the  Governor,  which  was  transmitted  by  Lord  Stirling 
to  Congress,  with  the  following. 


Colonel  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  Elizabethtown,  January  10th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — 1  now  send  you  inclosed,  copies  of  some  let- 
ters which  have  passed  between  Governor  Franklin,  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Winds.  As  it  is  evident  from  the 
last  letter  from  the  Governor,  that  he  intends  no  longer 
to  remain  quiet,  I  thought  it  most  prudent  to  secure  him, 
and  remove  him  to  this  place.  I  accordingly  sent  orders 
to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Winds  this  morning,  for  that  pur- 
pose. I  have  provided  good,  genteel  private  lodgings 
for  the  Governor,  at  Mr.  Boudinot's,  which  I  expect  he 
will  occupy  this  afternoon,  and  where  I  intend  he  shall 
remain  until  I  have  directions  from  Congress  what  to  do 
with  him. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


120  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

Lieut.  Colonel  William  Winds  to  William  Franklin,  Esq. 

"  Barracks  at  Perth  Amboy,  January  8th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — I  have  had  hints  that  you  intend  to  leave 
the  Province  in  case  the  letters  that  were  intercepted 
should  be  sent  to  the  continental  Congress.  As  I  have 
particular  orders  concerning  the  matter,  I  therefore  de- 
sire you  will  give  me  your  word  and  honour  that  you 
will  not  depart  this  Province  until  I  know  the  will  and 
pleasure  of  the  continental  Congress  concerning  the 
matter. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

William  Franklin,  Esq.  to  Lieut.  Colonel  Winds. 

"  January  8th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — Being  conscious  that  my  letter  which  was 
intercepted  contained  nothing  but  what  it  was  my  duty 
to  write  as  a  faithful  servant  of  the  Crown, — being  a 
mere  narrative  of  such  facts  and  reports  as  had  come  to 
my  knowledge  respecting  public  transactions, — I  have 
not  the  least  intention  to  quit  the  Province ;  nor  shall  I, 
unless  compelled  by  violence.  Were  1  to  act  otherwise, 
it  would  not  be  consistent  with  my  declarations  to  the 
Assembly,  at  the  last  session,  nor  my  regard  to  the  good 
people  of  this  Province. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Same  to  the  Same. 

"  Perth  Amboy,  January  9th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — I  observed  this  morning  that  armed  men 
were  placed  at  my  gate,  who,  from  time  to  time,  have 
been  relieved  by  others.  On  inquiry,  I  am  given  to  un- 
derstand that  they  are  placed  there  as  sentinels  by  your 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  \2\ 

orders.  This,  I  scarcely  know  how  to  believe,  not  only 
as  I  am  convinced  that  you  can  have  no  proper  authority 
for  it,  but  as  I  had  before,  under  my  hand,  assured  you, 
(who  are  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,) 
that  agreeable  to  my  declarations  to  the  Assembly  at  my 
last  session,  and  I  might  have  added,  in  compliance  with 
their  request, — I  was  determined  not  to  quit  the  Pro- 
vince unless  compelled  by  violence.  Such  an  assurance 
on  my  part  was  certainly  equal  to  any  promise  I  could 
make,  and  ought  of  course  to  have  weight  with  those 
who  pretend  to  act  on  principles  of  honour.  How- 
ever, let  the  authority,  or  let  the  pretence  be  what  it 
may,  I  do  hereby  require  of  you,  if  these  men  are  sent 
by  your  orders,  that  you  do  immediately  remove  them 
from  hence,  as  you  will  answer  the  contrary  at  your  peril. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Lieut,  Colonel  Winds  to  William  Franklin,  Esq. 

"  January  9th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — As  you  in  a  former  letter  say  you  wrote 
nothing  but  what  was  your  duty  to  do  as  a  faithful  offi- 
cer of  the  Crown,  so  I  say,  touching  the  sentinels  placed 
at  your  gate,  I  have  done  nothing  but  what  was  my  duty 
to  do  as  a  faithful  officer  of  the  Congress. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


Colonel  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  Elizabethtown,  January  11th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — In  consequence  of  orders  I  sent  to  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  Winds,  on  the  9th,  between  the  9th  and  10th 
instant  he  sent  two  officers  attended  by  a  proper  guard 
to  wait  upon  Governor  Franklin,  who  at  first  refused  pay- 


122  THE  LIFE  0F  L°RD  STIRLING. 

ing  any  attention  to  the  message  which  kindly  invited  him 
to  dine  with  me  at  this  place  ;  but  finding  it  in  vain  to  act 
that  part,  he  ordered  up  his  coach  in  order  to  proceed  to 
this  place.  But  Chief  Justice  Smyth,*  thinking  it  possi- 
ble to  put  the  matter  upon  an  easier  footing  for  the  Gov- 
ernor, prevailed  on  him  to  give  his  parole  not  to  depart 
from  his  house  on  any  pretence  whatever,  not  even  if  a 
rescue  should  be  offered  by  Captain  Parker,f  or  any  other 
person.  I  have  given  the  Lieutenant  Colonel  orders  to 
let  the  Governor  remain  at  his  house,  on  the  conditions 
stipulated  until  I  have  the  orders  of  Congress  to  the  con- 
trary. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Governor,  however,  would  not  remain  quiet,  but 
afterwards  issued  a  Proclamation  for  assembling  the 
former  Provincial  Legislature  ;  upon  which  the  Conven- 
tion of  the  Province  declared  his  authority  at  an  end  ; 
and  he  was  thereupon  directed  by  Congress  to  be  removed 
to  Connecticut.  There  he  remained  a  prisoner  until  the 
end  of  the  war,  when  he  sailed  for  England,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  pension  and  continued  to  reside  until  his  death.J 

Lord  Stirling  was  now  entering  upon  more  active 
service  ;  and  the  first  orders  he  received  from  a  military 
superior,  were  from  the  Commander-in-Chief  himself. 

*  Frederick  Smyth  ;  the  last  Chief  Bute,  was  appointed  Governor  of  New- 
Justice  of  New  Jersey,  under  the  Colo-  Jersey,  in  1763  ;  from  which  time  he  con- 
nial  government.  tinued  in  the  office  until  deposed, as  above 

t  Commander  of  the  British  man-of-  related.     He  died  in  England  in   1813, 

war  Phenix.  at  the  advanced  age  of  82.     By  his  first 

X  Governor  Franklin  was  born  about  wife,  a  West  Indian,  he  had  a  son,  Wil- 
the  year  1731.  Pie  was  a  Captain  in  Ham  Temple  Franklin,  who  edited  his 
the  French  war,  and  served  at  Ticon-  grandfather's  works,  and  is  accused  of 
deroga.  After  the  peace  of  Paris,  he  suppressing  some  highly  important  mat- 
accompanied  his  father  to  England  ;  and  ters.  This  gentleman  resided  latterly 
by  the  recommendation  of  the   Earl  of  at  Paris,  where  he  died  in  1823. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  123 

General  Washington  to  Colonel  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Cambridge,  January  10th,  1776. 

"  My  Lord, — Having  received  undoubted  intelli- 
gence of  the  fitting  out  of  a  fleet  from  Boston,  and  of 
the  embarkation  of  troops  from  thence,  which,  from  the 
season  of  the  year,  and  other  circumstances,  must  be 
destined  for  some  expedition  south  of  this ;  and  having 
such  information  as  I  can  rely  on  that  the  inhabitants  of 
Long  Island,  or  a  great  part  of  them,  are  inimical  to  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  America,  and,  by  their  conduct 
and  professions,  have  discovered  an  apparent  inclination 
to  assist  in  subjugating  their  country  and  fellow-citizens 
to  the  system  of  tyranny  administration  are  attempting 
to  establish, — there  is  the  greatest  reason  to  apprehend 
that  this  armament,  if  not  immediately  designed  against 
New-York,  is  nevertheless  intended  for  Long  Island. — 
Knowing  it  to  be  of  the  last  importance  to  the  interest  of 
America,  to  prevent  the  enemy  getting  possession  of  these 
places,  and  the  North  River,  which  would  give  them  the 
command  of  the  country,  and  a  free  communication  with 
Canada,  I  have  despatched  Major  General  Lee*  with  or- 
ders to  repair  to  New- York,  with  such  volunteers  as  he  can 
raise  on  his  way,  (having  no  troops  to  spare  from  hence,) 
to  put  the  city  and  the  fortifications  up  the  River  in  the 
best  posture  of  defence  the  season  and  situation  of  af- 
fairs will  admit  of;  and  for  taking  such  proper  steps 
against  such  persons  on  Long  Island,  and  elsewhere, 
whose  conduct  has  rendered  them  suspected  of  designs  un- 
friendly to  the  views  of  Congress.  I  have  directed  him  to 
apply  to  you  for  the  troops  of  New  Jersey,  under  your 

*  Charles  Lee,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  and  a  resident  of  Virginia. 


124  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

command,  in  the  continental  pay,  or  such  of  them  as  he 
may  think  necessary  for  effecting  the  purposes  of  his 
going.  I  beg,  and  am  assured,  that  you  will  afford  him 
every  assistance  in  your  power  for  facilitating  this  busi- 
ness, as  far  as  may  be  consistent  (or  not  repugnant)  to 
orders  you  have  received  from  Congress,  with  all  possible 
expedition. 

"  1  am,  &c." 


About  this  period,  Lord  Stirling  planned  and  executed 
an  enterprise,  which  at  once  established  his  character 
for  gallantry,  activity,  and  zeal,  and  gained  for  him  one 
of  the  earliest  complimentary  votes  granted  by  Con- 
gress.* With  the  regular  troops  under  his  command, 
and  some  volunteers  from  Elizabethtown,  and  its  neigh- 
bourhood, he  embarked  on  board  a  pilot-boat  and  three 
smaller  vessels,  and,  while  the  Asia  man-of-war  and  her 
tender  lay  at  anchor  in  the  bay  of  New- York,  proceeded 
at  night  to  sea,  and,  with  musketry  alone,  attacked  and 
carried  a  British  armed  Transport  of  three  hundred  tons 
burthen,  mounting  six  guns,  and  laden  with  stores  and 
provisions  for  the  enemy  at  Boston ;  and  the  next  day 
succeeded  in  conducting  his  prize  safely  into  the  port 
of  Perth  Amboy. 

The  following  is  his  official  report  of  the  affair  to 
Congress. 


*  In   Congress,  January  29th,  1776.  ble  and  exemplary;  and  that  his  Lord- 

Eesolved,  that  the  alertness,  activity,  and  ship  be  directed  to   secure  the   capture 

good  conduct  of  Lord   Stirling,  and  the  until  the  further  order  of  Congress  ;  and 

forwardness  and  spirit  of  the  gentlemen  that,  in  the   mean    time,  he   cause  such 

and    others    from    Elizabethtown,   who  part   of  the  lading  as  would   otherwise 

voluntarily  assisted  him  in  taking  the  perish,  to  be  disposed  of  by  sale.     Cong. 

ship  Blue-Mountain-Valley,  were  lauda-  Journ.  1776. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  125 

Colonel  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  January  24th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — On  Monday  last  I  received  intelligence  that 
a  Transport  laden  with  stores  for  the  Ministerial  army 
at  Boston,  was  hovering  off  Sandy  Hook,  in  distress,  and 
waiting  for  assistance  from  the  men-of-war  at  New- 
York.  I  thought  it  a  matter  of  so  much  importance 
that  I  immediately  set  out  for  Amboy,  and  there  seized 
a  Pilot-boat,  with  forty  men,  that  was  just  putting 
out,  and  about  two,  yesterday  morning,  I  was  joined 
by  three  other  boats  from  Elizabethtown,  who  volun- 
tarily came  on  this  service  under  Colonel  Dayton  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Thomas.  We  found  her  about  six 
leagues  South-East  of  Sandy  Hook.  We  boarded  and 
took  her  without  opposition.  She  proves  to  be  the 
Blue- Mountain-Valley,  commanded  by  Captain  James 
Hamilton  Dempster,  laden  with  coal,  provisions,  &c.  (I 
wish  it  had  been  arms  and  ammunition,  as  I  expected.) 
We  are  now  off  Amboy,  and  intend  to  push  this  evening 
into  the  Sound,  between  Staten  Island  and  the  Main. 
I  write  now  in  the  hurry  and  noise  incident  to  such  oc- 
casions ;  I  will  write  the  particulars  as  soon  as  possible.* 

"  I  am,  &c." 

*  The  following  are  the  names  of  jeanls,  William  Stegins,  David  Ross, 
the  officers  and  men,  belonging  to  the  and  Henry  Baker,  Privates  and  citizens, 
militia  of  Elizabethtown,  who  volun-  SamuelSmith,LewisBlanchard, Edmund 
teered  on  the  occasion  :  Colonel,  Elias  Thomas,  Thomas  Elstone,  Ephraim 
Dayton,  Lieut.  Colonel,  Edward  Thorn-  Marsh,  Adam  Lee,  Thomas  Quigley,, 
as,  Captains,  Oliver  Spencer  and  Wil-  Henry  M.  Monagal,  Price  Parcel,  Bar- 
liam  Button,  1st  Lieutenants,  Francis  ney  Ogden,  Timothy  B.  Stout,  Joseph 
Barber*  and  Aaron  Hatfield,  2nd  Lieu-  Meeker,  Jun.,  George  Weeks,  Edward 
tenants,  Thomas  Morrell,  Quarter-  Beaty,  David  Stewart,  Daniel  Craig, 
Master,  George  Evertson,  Surgeon  Thomas  Lee,  Stephen  Wheeler,  Far- 
William  Barnet,  Commanders  of  Boats,  rington  Price,  Elijah  Woodruff,  Jona- 
Smith  Hatfield   and  John  Thomas,  Ser-  than  Woodruff,  Aaron  Ogden,*  Edward 


126  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

The  following  relates  to  the  disposition  made  of  the 
Blue-Mountain-Valley,  and  her  cargo,  and  to  other  mat- 
ters to  which  the  writer  draws  the  attention  of  Congress  : 

Colonel  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"Elizabethtown,  February  2nd,  1776. 

"  Sir, — The  cargo  of  the  ship  Blue-Mountain-Val- 
ley is  now  chiefly  unladen,  and  brought  up  to  this  town, 
except  the  coal,  which  it  will  be  best  to  take  out  as  it  is 
disposed  of. 

"  I  have  as  yet  received  no  orders  from  Congress 
relative  to  this  ship,  nor  any  answer  to  the  three  letters 
relating  to  her,  since  her  capture,  and  of  which  it  was 
impossible  for  me  to  keep  copies.  Captain  Dempster 
is  very  desirous  of  returning  to  England.  Two  of  his 
mates,  and  his  foremast-men,  would  be  glad  of  working 
their  passage  home,  or  through  the  West  Indies.  It  will 
perhaps  be  best  to  send  them  to  Philadelphia  for  that 
purpose,  in  preference  to  any  of  the  ports  to  the  East- 
ward. 

"  I  am  told  that  Congress  has  established  some  rules 
with  regard  to  prizes  ;  and  also,  some  Admiralty  juris- 

Jones,  William  Clark,  Jonathan  Clark,  Connel,    Godfrey    Blackney,    Timothy 

Jonathan   Nichols,  Samuel  Mann,  Silas  Burns,  Simon  Simonson,  Richard  Miller, 

Freeman,  William  Meeker,  Samuel  Og-  and  John  Miller,  2nd.     Those  marked 

den,  Gabriel  Meeker,  Jonathan  Pierson,  with  an  asterisk  were  afterwards  aids  of 

filihu   Parsons,  Robert  Spencer,  Daniel  Lord  Stirling,  and  subsequently  rose  to 

Macarty,    William    Ramsden,    Samuel  greater  eminence.     Francis  Barber,  in 

,Sealey,   Samuel     Lee,   Thomas   Hoyt,  a  few  years  attained  the  command  of  a 

Lewis   Woodruff,  Isaiah  Gray,  William  regiment,  and  distinguished  himself  on 

Livingston,  Jr.,  Brockholst  Livingston,*  several     occasions      during     the     war. 

John      Hendrix,    Samuel      Morehouse,  Aaron  Ogden  became  Governor  of  the 

Jacob  Carle,  Benjamin  Woodruff,  Dan-  State  ;  Brockholst  Livingston,  a  Judge 

iel   Woodruff,   Benjamin    Hinds,   John  successively  of  the    Supreme    Court  of 

Gray,   James    Clenchy,    John    Miller,  New-York  and  of  the  United  States. 
John  Runyon,  Nicholas  Deane,  Moses 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  J  27 

diction  ;  but,  as  I  have  not  seen  them,  I  cannot  tell 
whether  this  ship  is  comprehended  within  them,  and 
shall  be  glad  to  be  instructed  in  regard  to  that  point. 

"  I  now  enclose  a  copy  of  the  orders  I  gave  to  Cap- 
tain Rogers,  when  I  put  the  ship  into  his  charge. 
This  Captain  Rogers  was  well  recommended  to  me  by 
the  New-York  Committee  of  Safety.  He  is,  I  believe, 
as  fit  a  man  as  any  to  command  a  ship  of  force  ;  or,  if 
it  should  be  thought  proper  to  keep  three  or  four  small 
sloops,  to  run  in  and  out  of  Sandy  Hook,  and  the  inlets 
of  Egg  Harbour,  Barnegat,  &c,  I  believe  he  would  be 
a  very  proper  person  to  command  them. 

"  Some  attempts  have  been  made  in  this  Province  to 
break  through  the  prohibition  ordered  by  Congress  to 
the  shipping  of  lumber  and  provisions.  I  have  taken 
every  step  in  my  power  to  prevent  it ;  and  have  laid 
the  whole  proceedings  before  the  Convention  of  this 
Province,  which  is  now  sitting  at  Brunswick.  Enclosed 
is  a  copy  of  my  letter  to  them  on  the  subject,  as  also  a 
copy  of  my  letter  to  them  on  the  subject  of  arms,  and 
I  hope  they  will  come  into  the  measure  I  have  recom- 
mended to  them. 

"  I  now  enclose  copies  of  the  orders  sent  to  Colonel 
Maxwell  with  regard  to  preparing  his  regiment  for 
marching  to  Albany,  and  his  answer  thereto.  These 
would  have  been  transmitted  sooner  to  you,  but  my  ab- 
sence a  few  days  from  this  place,  on  the  little  naval  ex- 
cursion, and  my  illness  in  consequence  of  it  for  a  day  or 
two  more,  has  thrown  me  behindhand  in  my  correspond- 
ence ;  which,  I  find,  swells  to  such  a  size  that  it  will 
be  impossible  for  me  to  get  through  it,  with  any  regu- 
larity, without  the  help  of  one  or  two  good  clerks. 

"  I  just  hear  that  seven  hundred  men  from  New 


128  THE  LIFE  0F  L0R1>  STIRLING. 

England,  arrived  in  New-York  this  afternoon  ;  and  that 
General  Lee  is  at  Kingsbridge  with  a  like  number. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

While  Lord  Stirling  was  thus  engaged  in  organizing 
and  disciplining  his  regiment,  and  availing  himself  of 
every  opportunity  of  rendering  service  to  the  cause  in 
which  he  had  so  ardently  embarked,  he  received  orders 
to  repair  to  New-York.  Upon  his  arrival  at  that  post, 
he  was  enabled  to  communicate  the  thanks  of  Congress 
to  the  inhabitants  of  Elizabethtown,  for  their  aid  in  the 
capture  of  the  British  transport,  in  the  following  letter 
to  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  that 
borough  ;  and  he  took  the  opportunity  to  add  his  own 
acknowledgments  for  the  co-operation  and  kindness  he 
had  personally  received  from  them  on  all  occasions  while 
quartered  there. 

Colonel  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Robert  Ogden,  Esq. 

"New- York,  February  9th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — It  gives  me  great  pleasure  and  satisfaction  to 
have  it  in  my  power  to  transmit  to  you  a  Resolve  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  which  does  so  much  justice  to  the 
gentlemen  of  Elizabethtown,  who  assisted  me  in  taking 
the  ship  Blue-Mountain-Valley,  and  consequently,  to 
the  Committee  of  that  town,  who  encouraged  and 
directed  that  reinforcement.  The  Resolve,*  of  which 
the  enclosed  is  a  copy,  I  received  this  evening. 

"  I  now  send  orders  to  Mr.  Blanchard,  conformable 
to  the  directions  I  have  received  from  Congress,  which 
I  have  not  the  least  doubt  will  be  faithfully  carried  into 

*  See  Resolution,  ante,  p.  124,  Note. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  J29 

execution.  I  now  send  to  Brigadier  General  Living- 
ston,* a  copy  of  some  further  directions  I  have  received 
from  the  Congress,  which  he  will  communicate  to  jou, 
and  which,  I  doubt  not,  your  Committee  will  give  him 
their  best  assistance,  if  necessary,  to  carry  into  punctual 
execution. 

"  I  take  this  opportunity  of  requesting  you,  Sir,  to 
give  my  best  thanks  to  the  Committee  of  Elizabeth- 
town,  for  their  readiness  at  all  times  to  assist  me  in 
carrying  on  the  service  under  my  direction,  while  I  was 
at  that  place  ;  and  to  the  inhabitants  in  general,  for  the 
many  instances  of  confidence  and  friendship  I  have 
received  from  them. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Same  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  New- York,  February  19th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — On  the  4th  instant,  I  informed  you  of  my 
having  received  General  Lee's  orders  to  march  with  my 
regiment  to  this  place.  I  accordingly  marched  the  next 
morning,  with  four  companies,  from  Elizabethtown,  and 
arrived  here  the  next  day,  as  soon  as  the  ice  permitted 
us  to  cross  Hudson's  River.  The  other  four  companies 
followed  the  next  day. 

"  Your  most  agreeable  letter  of  the  2nd  instant,  I 
received  on  the  9th,  enclosing  the  Resolve  of  Congress 
of  the  29th  of  January,  which  gave  me  more  pleasure 
and  satisfaction  than  any  incident  I  ever  met  with. 

"  I  now  send  you  inclosed,  copies  of  the  measures  I 
immediately  took  to  carry  into  execution  the  orders  of 

*  William  Livingston,  afterwards  this  time  a  Brigadier  General  of  Militia, 
Governor  of  New  Jersey.  He  was  the  and  as  such  succeeded  to  the  command  at 
Drother-in-law  of  Lord  Stirling,  and  at     Elizabethtown. 

9 


130  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

Congress  relative  to  the  ship  Blue-Mountain-Valley, 
and  Mr.  Blanchard's  letter  to  me  in  answer  to  the  one  I 
wrote  him,  by  which  Congress  will  see  the  present  situa- 
tion of  that  ship.  I  wish  you  would  give  full  instruc- 
tions to  John  De  Hart,  Esq.  and  Mr.  John  Blanchard, 
what  to  do  with  her  and  her  cargo,  as  my  situation  will 
prevent  my  paying  any  attention  to  her. 

"  When  I  arrived  at  this  place,  I  expected  to  have 
found  a  continental  Commissary  of  provisions  who  would 
have  provided  my  regiment  with  rations ;  but  there 
being  no  such  officer  here,  with  General  Lee's  approba- 
tion, I  have  directed  my  Quarter-Master  to  furnish  my 
regiment  with  provisions,  as  nearly  as  possible,  agree- 
able to  the  ration  fixed  by  Congress,  and  to  do  it  with 
all  the  economy  possible.  He  has  hitherto  purchased 
provisions  with  his  own  money,  and  such  as  he  could 
borrow ;  but  as  that  source  must  soon  fail,  I  must  beg 
that  Congress  will,  as  soon  as  possible,  give  the  neces- 
sary directions  relative  to  this  point.  I  have  wrote 
Colonel  Lowrey  on  this  head,  and  have  informed  him  of 
our  situation,  that  he  may  take  the  necessary  steps  to 
relieve  us,  in  case  he  is  empowered  by  Congress. 

"  I  am,  &c.» 

On  the  1st  of  March,  Lord  Stirling  was  promoted 
by  Congress  to  be  a  Brigadier  General,  and  which  was 
officially  announced  to  him,  as  follows  : — 

The  President   of  Congress   to  Brigadier  General  the 
Earl  of  Stiiiing. 

"  Philadelphia,  March  1st,  1776. 

"  My  Lord, — I  do  myself  the  honour  of  enclosing  to 
you  a  commission  of  Brigadier  General  in  the  Conti- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  131 

nental  army.  From  the  high  opinion  the  Congress  en- 
tertain of  your  zeal  and  attachment  to  the  American 
cause,  they  flatter  themselves  you  will  do  every  thing  in 
your  power  to  discharge  your  duty  to  your  country  on 
this  important  occasion.  I  have  it  in  charge  from  Con- 
gress to  direct  that  you  will  continue  at  New- York, 
until  further  orders. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  intelligence  was  also  conveyed  to  him  in  a  pri- 
vate letter  from  a  friend  in  Congress,  containing  more 
particulars  in  regard  to  his  command  and  to  other  mili- 
tary arrangements. 

James  Duane*  to  B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Philadelphia,  March  1st,  1776. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — I  am  afraid  you  will  suspect  I 
have  been  unmindful  of  your  request  when  last  here, 
and  of  your  interest ;  but  I  beg  you  will  be  assured  that 
inattention  to  my  friends  is  one  of  the  vices  of  which  I 
feel  myself  incapable. 

"  The  first  opportunity  I  have  embraced  to  solicit 
your  promotion,  in  which  1  wTas  so  happy  as  to  be  sup- 
ported by  my  friends.  Your  Lordship  is  accordingly 
appointed  a  Brigadier  General  for  the  Middle  department, 
comprehending  New- York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
the  Lower  Counties,  and  Maryland  ;  the  Colonies  to  the 
southward,  the  four  Eastern  Provinces,  and  Canada, 
form  the  other  three  departments. 

"  It  is  now  determined  that  General  Lee  shall  com- 
mand in  the  Southern  department,  where  an  immediate 
attack  is  expected.  The  debates  of  this  day  did  him 
singular  honour,  and  evince  the  confidence  Congress  have 

*  See  ante  p.  8,  Note. 


x 


]32  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

in  his  zeal  and  abilities.  He  was  given  up  to  the 
Southern  Colonies,  as  most  exposed,  with  great  reluc- 
tance. General  Schuyler,  with  Brigadier  General 
Thompson  and  yourself  are  destined  for  the  Middle  de- 
partment. The  Commander-in-Chief  for  Canada  re- 
mains to  be  filled  up,  and  is  the  subject  of  some  per- 
plexity as  well  as  of  very  great  importance.  It  was  the 
anxious  wish  and  earnest  advice  of  our  much  lamented 
friend  Montgomery,  that  he  should  be  succeeded  by 
General  Lee ;  but  the  situation  of  our  affairs  prevented 
it.  General  Schuyler's  very  precarious  state  of  health, 
and  the  danger  to  which  his  native  Province  is  exposed, 
will,  we  suppose,  make  the  disposition  respecting  him 
very  agreeable.  Present  my  respectful  compliments  to 
him  and  General  Lee. 

"  I  am,  <fcc." 

B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  New- York,  March  3rd,  1776. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  have  this  evening  the  honour  of  re- 
ceiving your  letter  of  the  1st  instant,  enclosing  a  Com- 
mission to  me  of  Brigadier  General  in  the  Continental 
army. 

"  This  instance  of  the  good  opinion  which  the  Con- 
gress entertain  of  my  zeal  and  attachment  to  the  Ameri- 
can cause,  does  me  high  honour,  and  I  receive  it  from  my 
country  with  that  gratitude  and  satisfaction  which  will 
excite  me  to  do  every  thing  in  my  power  to  deserve  it. 
I  wish  I  had  more  knowledge  and  experience,  and  was 
better  qualified  to  execute  the  arduous  task,  I  am  now 
appointed  to  ;  but  the  Congress  may  rest  assured  that  in 
every  situation,  I  will  endeavour  to  do  the  best  I  can, 
and  execute  their  commands  so  far  as  it  is  possible. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  133 

The  Chairman  of  the  Elizabethtown  Committee, 
was  the  first  to  congratulate  him  upon  his  promotion. 

Robert  Ogden,  Esq.,  to  B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Elizabethtown,  March  4th,  1776. 

"  My  Lord, — I  heartily  congratulate  jou  on  your 
appointment  to  be  a  Brigadier  General.  It  will  give 
every  friend  to  his  country  great  pleasure  to  see  that 
posts  of  so  much  importance  are  filled  by  gentlemen  of 
the  first  abilities,  and  so  strongly  attached  to  the  common 
cause.  I  sincerely  wish  all  officers,  from  the  highest  to 
the  lowest,  may  be  advanced  according  to  their  abilities, 
merit,  and  valour,  and  none  but  such  be  employed  in  the 
service. 

"I  am,  &c." 

After  the  departure  of  General  Lee,  the  chief  com- 
mand at  New-York  devolved  on  Lord  Stirling,  con- 
cerning whose  fitness  for  the  station,  that  veteran  and 
accomplished  officer  had  declared  to  the  President  of 
Congress,  in  his  letter  announcing  the  change,  that  he 
was  "  in  very  little  pain  about  the  execution  of  what 
they  had  concerted,  as  it  was  committed  to  the  hands  of 
Lord  Stirling,  who  showed  much  intelligence  and  ac- 
tivity;"— and  again,  in  his  letter  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief,  he  says,  "  Lord  Stirling  will  take  the  command 
until  the  arrival  of  Schuyler.  His  Lordship  is  active  and 
discreet,  and  will  acquit  himself  well."*  How  far  these 
favourable  opinions  were  confirmed,  will  now  be  seen 

Upon  assuming  the  command  at  New- York,  Lord 
Stirling's  attention  was  immediately  directed  to  cutting 
off  the  communication  between  the  inhabitants  of  Staten 

*  See  the  letters  in  the  American  Archives,  4th  Series,  Vol.  V.  pp.  50  and  74. 


134  THE  L1FE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

and  Long  Islands,  and  the  ships  of  war  of  the  enemy  in 
the  adjoining  waters  ; — in  calling  in  the  remaining 
force  from  New  Jersey ; — and  in  preparing  for  the  re- 
ception of  the  troops  from  Massachusetts.  To  insure 
the  first  of  these  objects,  he  requested  the  President  of 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  Jersey,  to  order  four  hun- 
dred minute-men  to  be  stationed  near  the  watering  place 
at  Staten  Island,  who,  besides  effecting  that  particular 
object,  might  keep  a  constant  and  vigilant  look-out  to- 
wards the  sea,  and  give  information  of  the  arrival  of 
vessels,  and  of  the  movements  of  the  ships  of  war  in  the 
harbour.  To  this  corps,  he  recommended  that  a  few 
light  cavalry  should  be  added,  to  bring  intelligence  to 
New-York  ;  while  another  party  should  be  stationed  be- 
tween Sandy  Hook  and  the  mouth  of  the  Raritan,  with 
a  detachment  on  the  highlands  of  Navesink,  to  protect 
the  country  from  surprise. 

Receiving  intelligence  that  the  whole,  or  the  greater 
part  of  the  British  army  had  embarked  at  Boston,  and 
was  probably  on  its  way  to  New-York,  he  requested  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  New  Jersey  to  order  the  third 
battalion  raised  for  the  continental  service  to  be  marched 
to  that  city.  He  expressed  to  them  also  his  opinion  that 
they  should  remain  in  session,  or  appoint  a  Committee  of 
Safety  to  sit  daily  in  their  stead.  In  anticipation  of  the 
arrival  of  the  American  army,  he  took  immediate  measures 
for  raising  a  corps  of  artificers,  consisting  of  carpenters, 
shipbuilders,  wheelwrights,  and  blacksmiths,  to  the  num- 
ber of  one  hundred  men,  and  entered  into  large  con- 
tracts for  the  supply  of  clothing  for  the  troops  expected 
from  Cambridge.  The  following  letter  to  the  officer  in 
command  on  Long  Island,  shows  what  extreme  measures 
the  exigency  of  that  critical  period  seemed  to  require. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  J35 

B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Colonel  Ward. 

"  Head-Quarters,  New-York,  March  8th,  1776. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  write  this  letter  to  you  in  the  utmost 
confidence  of  secrecy,  and  therefore,  no  man  but  your- 
self is  to  see  it.  It  is  absolutely  necessary  to  prevent 
the  communication  between  the  ship  Phenix,  which  lies 
off  the  west  end  of  Long  Island,  below  the  Narrows, 
and  the  people  of  that  part  of  Long  Island  ;  but  more 
especially  to  take  or  destroy  a  certain  Frank  James,  a 
pilot  who  now  assists  Captain  Parker,  who  commands 
the  Phenix,  in  decoying  and  taking  vessels  of  great 
importance  to  the  cause  we  are  now  engaged  in.  There 
are  some  other  pilots  serving  Captain  P.  in  the  same 
way,  whose  names  I  am  not  informed  of,  but  they  are 
well  known  to  Mr.  Christopher  Duyckinck,  who  with 
three  or  four  other  guides  will  attend  you  for  the  purposes 
hereinafter  mentioned. 

"  You  will  pick  out  of  your  regiment  two  of  the  most 
alert  officers,  with  two  parties  of  about  twenty  men  each, 
to  be  supplied  with  twenty  rounds  of  ammunition  and 
three  days'  provisions  ready  dressed,  who,  with  these 
guides  are  to  proceed  to  the  places  they  will  show  them, — 
conceal  themselves  as  much  as  possible  from  the  people 
of  the  country, — take  such  stations  as  are  most  proper 
for  securing  or  destroying  such  pilots,  or  any  persons  be- 
longing to  the  man-of-war.  It  will  be  best  that  the 
two  parties  march  from  your  quarters  to-morrow  evening, 
a  little  before  moon-rising,  so  that  the  men  may  arrive  at 
their  stations  before  day-light ;  and  it  will  be  absolutely 
necessary  that  the  officer  of  each  party  consult  with,  and 
put  the  utmost  confidence  in  the  guides  assigned  to  them. 
When  the  parties  have  taken  their  stations,  they  should, 


136  THE  LIFE  °F  LORD  STIRLING. 

if  possible,  without  firing,  or  by  any  means  alarming  the 
man-of-war,  or  the  country,  prevent  any  boats  from  leav- 
ing the  shore ;  and  the  shortest  way  to  effect  this,  will 
be  for  single  men,  about  day-light,  to  examine  the  shore, 
and  with  their  hatchets  cut  a  hole  or  two  in  the  bottoms 
of  all  the  small  boats  they  find  there,  and  to  remove  to 
some  secret  place  the  oars,  paddles,  or  sails. 

"  You  will  see  the  necessity  of  this  matter  being 
conducted  with  secrecy  and  alertness ;  and  I  doubt  not 
you  will  choose  your  men  accordingly. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

From  the  following  it  appears  that  Lord  Stirling  was 
among  the  first  to  discern  the  merit  of  the  late  General 
Hamilton,  and  would  have  appointed  him  his  Brigade 
Major,  had  not  the  future  hero  and  statesman  preferred, 
at  that  time,  the  command  of  a  company  of  artillery  in 
the  line  of  the  army. 

Elisha  Boudinot,  Esq.,  to  B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

Newark,  March  10th,  1776. 

"  My  Lord, — On  my  brother's  return  from  New- 
York,  he  informed  me  that  Mr.  Hamilton  had  already 
accepted  the  command  of  Artillery,  and  was  therefore 
deprived  of  the  pleasure  of  attending  your  Lordship's 
person  as  Brigade  Major.  The  bearer,  Captain  Harry 
G.  Livingston,  is  very  desirous  of  offering  you  his  ser- 
vices in  that  capacity,  but  his  modesty  would  not  suffer 
him  to  do  it  personally.  He  therefore  begged  me  to 
write  this.  As  he  is  a  young  gentleman  of  character, 
spirit,  and  fortune,  I  thought  few  could  be  found  fitter  for 
that  place.     I  have  therefore  taken  the  liberty  of  men- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  137 

tioninghim  to  your  Lordship,  if  you  should  not  be  already 

provided. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

'  The  official  correspondence  of  Lord  Stirling  with  his 
military  superiors,  after  taking  the  command  at  New- 
York,  commenced  with  the  following  letter  to  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  intimate  of  his  private  friends. 


B    G    the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Major  General  Philip 

Schuyler. 

«  New-Yorft,  March  10th,  1776. 

"  My  Dear  General, — General  Lee  communica- 
ted to  me  your  letter  of  the  29th  of  February  ;  since  the 
date  of  which,  Congress  have  made  a  new  arrangement 
of  the  commands  in  America,  of  which  you  will  doubtless 
be  informed  before  this  reaches  you.  However,  lest  by 
any  accident  that  should  not  be  the  case,  1  shall  just  re- 
capitulate what  our  friend  Duane  writes  me  on  the  sub- 
ject. 

"  General  Lee  is  to  command  in  the  Southern  de- 
partment, comprehending  Virginia,  the  Carolinas,  and 
Georgia.  The  Middle  department,  comprehending  New- 
York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  the  Lower  Counties, 
and  Maryland,  is  under  your  command,  with  Thompson* 
and  myself  as  Brigadiers.  The  New  England  Colonies 
compose  the  Eastern  department,  and  Canada,  the 
Northern — who  was  to  command  in  the  latter,  was  not 
yet  determined.! 

*  William  Thompson,  of  Pennsylva-  with    reputation    at    Roxbury,    and    of 

nia,  afterwards  a  Major  General.  whose  military  capacity  a  very  favoura- 

t  John    Thomas,  lately  appointed    a  ble   opinion  had  been  formed,  was  ap- 

Major   General,  who   had   commanded  pointed  to  this  very  important  command. 


138  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

"  In  consequence  of  this  arrangement,  General  Lee 
set  out  from  this  place,  on  Thursday  evening,  for  Phila- 
delphia, and  has  left  me  in  a  situation  not  a  little  per- 
plexing, especially  to  a  young  beginner,  as  I  may  call 
myself  after  twenty  years'  retirement.  It  will  require  at 
least  eight  thousand  men,  to  put  this  place  and  Long 
Island  in  any  posture  of  defence,  by  the  month  of  May. 
We  have  not  above  eighteen  hundred  :  of  these,  one 
thousand  Connecticut  troops  will  leave  us  on  the  25th 
of  this  month.  Of  the  remainder,  three  hundred  are 
minute-men ;  so  that  we  shall  be  reduced  to  about  five 
hundred.  I  have  indeed  ordered  Colonel  Dayton  to 
get  the  third  bat'talion  of  Jersey  troops  in  readiness  to 
march  as  soon  as  possible  ;  but  before  I  order  him  to 
march  to  this  place,  I  must  wait  to  know  his  destination 
from  yourself  or  Congress.  I  know  not  the  state  of  the 
battalions  raising  in  this  Province  ;  but  I  believe  they  are 
backward  in  their  recruiting, — especially  those  in  this 
quarter.  Their  field-officers  are  not  yet  appointed.  I 
most  sincerely  wish  you  were  here,  for  when  General 
Thompson  arrives,  he  will  be  equally  at  a  loss  what  to 
do.  Until  we  have  your  particular  orders,  however,  as 
I  know  General  Lee's  ideas  about  the  fortifying  of  this 
place,  I  shall  pursue  his  plan  as  far  as  possible,  until  1 
receive  further  orders. 

"  A  copy  of  your  letter  to  General  Lee  is  sent  to 
the  Convention  of  this  Province,  in  order  that  they  may 
co-operate  with  you  in  the  preparation  of  the  campaign 
in  Canada.  It  is  high  time  that  the  General  who  is  to 
command  in  that  department  was  on  his  way  to  it. 

"  By  General  Lee's  directions,  I  have  engaged  in 
New  Jersey,  two  companies  of  carpenters,  each  consist- 
ing of  one   Captain,  one   Lieutenant,  and  twenty-five 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  139 

men,  designed  for  Canada  ;  but,  as  I  observe,  you  have 
fifty  ready  to  go  at  a  moment's  warning,  I  shall  retain 
them  until  further  orders.  They  can,  in  the  mean  time, 
be  well  employed  at  this  place,  in  building  platforms 
and  barriers. 

"March  11th.  Last  night,  three  gentlemen  landed 
here  from  on  board  a  packet  from  England.  The  advi- 
ces they  bring  are  that  seven  regiments  of  foot,  amount- 
ing to  about  four  thousand  men,  were  to  sail  from  Cork, 
about  the  6th  of  January,  bound  to  the  Southern  Colo- 
nies ;  that  Great  Britain  had  engaged  four  thousand 
Hanoverians,  and  six  thousand  Hessians  for  the  Ameri- 
can war,  and  was  in  treaty  for  ten  thousand  Prussians  ; 
that  the  French  Ambassador  had  declared  to  the  Eng- 
lish Ministry,  that  while  the  quarrel  between  Great 
Britain  and  her  Colonies  was  carried  on  by  their  own 
force,  the  King,  his  master,  would  not  meddle  with  it, 
but  if  any  foreign  power  was  introduced,  he  would  no 
longer  be  an  idle  spectator.  They  had  not  heard  in 
England  that  the  French  had  any  troops  in  the  West 
India  Islands.     I  think  this  looks  well  for  us. 

"I  am,  &c." 

From  a  return  which  Lord  Stirling  directed  to  be 
made  to  him,  it  appears  that  the  effective  force,  at  this 
time  under  his  command,  amounted  to  about  two  thou- 
sand men,  consisting  of  the  following  corps,  viz. :  his 
own  regiment,  with  Waterbury's,  Drake's,  Swartwout's, 
and  Van  Ness's,  with  Hamilton's  Artillery,  and  Led- 
yard's  company  of  volunteers,  in  New-York,  and  Ward's 
regiment  upon  Long  Island. 

On  the  13th,  he  received  intelligence  from  General 
Washington,  that  the  King's  army  at  Boston  had  actu- 


|40  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

ally  embarked,  and  that  there  was  the  greatest  reason 
to  believe  that  its  destination  was  New- York.  He 
called,  therefore,  upon  the  Committees  of  six  of  the 
adjoining  Counties  in  New  Jersey,  to  assemble  their 
militia,  and  select  three  or  four  hundred  of  the  best 
men  from  each  regiment,  and  send  them  to  New-York, 
to  assist  in  its  fortification  and  defence.  This  requisi- 
tion, however,  was  not  generally  complied  with  ;  but, 
in  several  instances,  was  objected  to  on  the  ground  that 
the  Committees  had  no  power  to  send  the  Militia  out 
of  the  Province,  and,  that  if  they  had,  it  would  be  inex- 
pedient to  do  so,  inasmuch  as  the  arming  of  the  two 
battalions  in  the  Continental  service,  had  drained  the 
Province  of  its  best  arms,  and  the  detachment  now  re- 
quired, would  leave  it  defenceless,  and  exposed  to  con- 
tinual incursions  from  the  British  in  New- York.  The 
Committee  of  Newark,  however,  sent  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men  ;  that  of  Elizabethtown  followed  the  example, 
and  the  remote  County  of  Morris,  where  Lord  Stirling 
had  much  personal  influence,  was  induced  by  the  follow- 
ing letter,  to  send  three  hundred. 

B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Alexander  Carmichael,  Esq. 

"New-York,  March  17th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — I  have  your  letter  of  yesterday's  date.  Give 
me  leave  to  assure  you,  that  by  appointment  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  the  District  of  the  commanding 
General  here  extends  to  the  Province  of  New  Jersey, 
and  that  I  have  it  in  command  from  Congress  to  call 
in  so  many  of  the  Militia  of  the  neighbouring  Provinces, 
as  I  find  necessary  for  fortifying  and  defending  this 
place,  and  its  environs  ;  and  to  assure  them  that  they 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  \^\ 

shall  receive  the  same  pay  and  provisions  with  the  Con- 
tinental troops  employed  in  the  Middle  department,  to 
commence  from  the  time  they  actually  begin  their 
march  for  this  place.  As  to  the  fears  of  the  people  about 
Amboy,  Congress  will  take  care  of  it ;  and  as  to  the 
men  out  on  furloughs,  they  are  all  ordered  to  their  regi- 
ments. I  hope,  therefore,  there  will  no  longer  be  any 
objections  to  the  three  hundred  men  required  from  Mor- 
ris County. 

«  I  am,  &c." 

A  similar  requisition  was  made  upon  the  Governor 
of  Connecticut,  which  had,  in  part,  been  anticipated  by 
the  zeal  of  that  sturdy  patriot  and  his  Council. 

B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Governor  Trumbull. 

"  New-York.  March  17th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — You  have  doubtless  received  the  intelligence 
I  have  from  General  Washington,  relative  to  the  motions 
of  the  ministerial  troops  from  Boston,  and  the  situation 
of  our  troops  which  surround  it.  That  General  Howe 
intends  to  move  this  way  with  his  army,  I  think  highly 
probable.  Many  little  manoeuvres  of  Governor  Tryon,* 
and  the  men-of-war  in  this  harbour,  seem  to  confirm  it. 
I  am  taking  every  step  in  my  power  to  be  prepared  for 
their  reception,  by  fortifying  every  advantageous  spot 
near  this  city,  and  on  Long  Island.  But  whatever  may 
be  the  designs  of  General  Howe,  it  appears  from  all  the 
intelligence  received,  that  the  Ministry  are  determined 
to  make  an  effort  to  gain  possession  of  this  city ;  and  I 

*  The  last  Colonial  Governor  of  New-York,  who  had  taken  refuge  on  board  of 
the  Asia,  64. 


142  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

have,  therefore,  the  orders  of  Congress,  by  all  possible 
means,  to  provide  for  its  safety. 

"  I  have  also  their  direction  to  apply  to  the  neigh- 
bouring Colonies  for  such  parts  of  their  Militia  or  Pro- 
vincial troops,  as  may  be  necessary  until  the  Continental 
troops,  destined  for  this  service,  arrive  here.  The  two 
regiments  from  Connecticut  now  here,  and  on  Long 
Island,  deserve  the  thanks  of  the  public,  for  their  good 
order,  industry,  and  alertness  ;  and  I  sincerely  wish  they 
could  be  prevailed  on  to  stay  while  their  services  are 
necessary,  (as  it  would  save  time  and  pay  to  an  im- 
mense amount,)  in  the  Continental  service.  But  I 
understand  many  of  them  are  farmers  of  property,  hav- 
ing families  at  home,  and  wish  to  be  there  to  mark  out 
the  work  of  their  farms  for  the  ensuing  season.  How- 
ever, I  will,  with  the  Colonels  Waterbury  and  Ward, 
endeavour  to  prevail  upon  as  many  of  them  as  possible, 
to  stay  until  they  are  relieved  by  others  from  your  Col- 
ony. In  the  mean  time  I  think  it  highly  necessary,  and 
1  have  no  doubt  your  Excellency  will  carry  it  into  execu- 
tion, that  recruits  be  raised  to  complete  these  two  regi- 
ments to  at  least  six  hundred  privates  each  ;  and  that 
another  regiment  of  like  strength  be  raised  in  your  Col- 
ony, if  possible,  on  condition  of  serving  the  campaign, 
or  as  long  as  the  service  requires  ;  and  to  be  armed, 
accoutred,  and  clothed,  as  well  as  time  will  permit. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  intelligence  from  General  Washington,  above  re- 
ferred to,  was  contained  in  the  following  letter,  addressed 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  143 

To  the  Commanding  Officer  at  Neiv-York. 

<:  Cambridge,  March  14th,  1776. 

"  Sir, — I  have  strong  reasons  since  I  wrote  to  you 
last,  to  confirm  me  in  my  opinion,  that  the  army  under 
General  Howe  is  on  its  departure.  All  their  movements 
indicate  it ;  but  lest  it  be  a  feint,  I  must  continue  on  my 
guard,  and  not  weaken  my  lines  too  much,  until  I  have 
a  certainty  of  their  departure.  It  is  given  out  that  they 
are  bound  to  Halifax;  but  I  am  of  opinion,  that  New- 
York  is  their  place  of  destination.  It  is  an  object 
worthy  of  their  attention,  and  it  is  the  place  that  we 
must  use  every  endeavour  to  keep  from  them  :  for  should 
they  get  that  town,  and  the  command  of  the  North 
River,  they  can  stop  the  intercourse  between  the  North- 
ern and  Southern  Colonies,  upon  which  depends  the 
safety  of  America. 

"  My  feelings  upon  this  subject  are  so  strong  that  I 
would  not  wish  to  give  the  enemy  a  chance  of  succeed- 
ing at  your  place.  I  shall  therefore  despatch  a  regiment, 
and  some  independent  companies  of  riflemen,  this  day; 
and  to-morrow,  or  as  soon  as  can  conveniently  be  done, 
five  more  regiments  will  set  out  from  this  camp.  I  can- 
not part  with  more  while  the  enemy  remain  in  sight ;  but 
I  have  written  to  Governor  Trumbull,  to  send  you  two 
thousand  men,  as  soon  as  he  possibly  can.  If  you  can 
get  one  thousand  from  New  Jersey,  with  the  Militia  of 
the  country  called  in,  if  not  repugnant  to  the  will  of 
Congress,  1  think  you  can  make  a  sufficient  stand,  until 
1  can,  with  the  main  body  of  this  army,  join  you  ;  which, 
you  may  depend,  will  be  as  soon  as  possible,  after  I  can 
with  any  degree  of  certainty  tell  their  route. 

"  The  plan  of  defence  formed  by  General  Lee  is, 


144  THE  L1FE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

from  what  little  1  know  of  the  place,  a  very  judicious 
one.  1  hope,  nay,  I  dare  say,  it  is  carrying  into  execu- 
tion with  spirit  and  industry.  You  may  judge  from  the 
enemy's  keeping  so  long  possession  of  the  town  of  Bos- 
ton against  an  army  superior  in  numbers,  how  much 
easier  it  is  to  keep  an  enemy  from  forming  a  lodgment 
in  a  place,  than  it  will  be  to  dispossess  them,  when  they 
get  themselves  fortified.  As  I  have  in  my  last  told  you, 
that  the  fate  of  this  campaign,  of  course  the  fate  of 
America,  depends  upon  you,  and  the  army  under  your 
command,  should  the  enemy  attempt  your  quarter, — I 
will  dwell  no  more  thereon,  though  the  vast  importance 
of  the  subject  would  make  an  apology  for  repetition 
needless. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

To  this  [letter  Lord  Stirling,  by  whom  it  was  re- 
ceived, returned  the  following  answer. 

B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  General  Washington. 

"  New-York,  March  20th,  1776. 

"  Dear  General, — In  consequence  of  General 
Lee's  departure  on  the  7th  instant,  I  have  had  the 
honour  to  receive  your  letter  of  the  14th,  directed  to  the 
commanding  officer  at  this  place. 

"I  am  happy  to  find  that  the  aid  1  called  in  from 
New  Jersey  and  Connecticut  exactly  concurs  with  your 
sentiments.  The  two  regiments  from  Connecticut  now 
here,  consisting  of  about  five  hundred  rank  and  file  each, 
are  impatient  to  go  home,  as  many  of  them  are  farmers, 
and  want  to  lay  out  their  summer's  work.  The  time  of 
their  engagement  with  General  Lee  ends  next  Monday. 
I  have  used  my  best  endeavours  to  prevail  upon  them  to 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  145 

stay  till  their  places  are  supplied  from  that  quarter,  but 
it  is  still  doubtful  whether  they  will  consent  to  it.  Of 
this  I  have  apprized  Governor  Trumbull,  and  have  re- 
quested him  to  make  up  the  whole  two  thousand  from 
that  Colony.  From  New  Jersey  I  have  requested  one 
thousand  men  :  about  two  hundred  of  them  are  come  in. 
About  one  thousand  are  ordered  from  the  northern  coun- 
ties of  this  province  :  none  of  them  is  yet.  arrived. 

"  We  have  now  at  this  place  and  on  Long  Island, 
about  two  thousand  five  hundred  men,  including  the 
above  two  Connecticut  regiments.  The  militia  in  town 
amount  to  about  as  many  more.  Nearly  one-half  of  the 
wrhole  are  on  fatigue  every  day,  carrying  into  execution 
the  plan  of  defence  formed  by  General  Lee.  They  go 
on  with  great  spirit  and  industry.  The  Congress  have 
ordered  eight  thousand  men  for  the  defence  of  this  city 
and  province.  The  corps  to  make  up  this  number  are 
four  regiments  from  Pennsylvania,  one  from  New  Jersey, 
and  four  from  this  province  ;  none  of  which  is  yet 
arrived,  and  most  of  them  are  incomplete,  and  unfit  to 
march,  especially  those  of  this  province  ;  of  whom  not 
above  two  hundred  are  yet  in  town  ;  and  some  of  them, 
1  find,  are  to  be  employed  on  Hudson's  River,  and  in 
the  northern  parts  of  the  province. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

"  P.  S.  Brigadier  General  Thompson  is  arrived  here 
this  day,  and  of  course  takes  the  command  ;  my  utmost 
industry  will  be  exerted  to  assist  him  in  it." 

To  give  greater  efficacy  to  his  defensive  operations, 
the  following  "  Regulations  "  were  agreed  to  between 
Lord  Stirling,  and  a  Committee  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  New- York  ;  viz. : 

10 


146  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

"  1.  That  all  the  inhabitants  capable  of  fatigue  duty, 
be  immediately  employed  on  the  fortifications  of  this 
City,  as  well  as  the  negro-men  in  the  City  and  County 
of  New- York. 

"  2.  To  this  end,  that  the  commanding  officer  of 
each  corps  draw  out  his  corps,  and  parade  at  the  Com- 
mon at  9  o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  without  arms, 
but  with  as  many  intrenching  tools  as  they  are  possessed 
of;  and  that  they  take  care  to  have  all  the  negro-men 
in  their  respective  districts  turned  out  and  provided  in 
the  same  manner. 

"  3.  Lord  Stirling  having  informed  the  Committee 
of  the  arrival  of  a  quantity  of  powder  in  this  City,  and 
that  another  quantity  is  soon  expected,  the  whole  direct- 
ed by  the  Continental  Congress  for  the  service  of  the 
army  at  Cambridge,  it  is  agreed  that  the  forwarding  of 
the  said  powder  shall  be  deferred  until  the  further  order 
of  the  Continental  Congress  ;  and  that  an  express  be 
immediately  despatched  by  Lord  Stirling  on  the  subject. 

"  4.  It  is  agreed  that  it  be  recommended  by  the 
Provincial  Congress  to  issue  an  order  to  the  General 
Committee  of  New- York,  to  make  immediate  report  of 
all  the  provisions  and  iron  in  town ;  and  to  prevent  the 
exportation  of  either  until  further  orders. 

"  5.  That  the  Provincial  Congress  immediately  au- 
thorize Dr.  John  Jones,  and  Dr.  Treat,  to  purchase  all 
the  hospital  medical  stores  and  apparatus  which  they 
may  think  necessary ;  and  make  report  of  their  doings 
without  delay  ;  and  possess  themselves  of  the  hospital 
stores  in  possession  of  Mr.  Commissary  Curtenius. 

"  6.  That  the  Provincial  Congress  issue  immediate 
orders  to  the  Committee  of  King's  County,  to  order  the 
inhabitants  of  that  County  to  give  assistance  in  fatigue  to 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  147 

Colonel  Ward,  by  turning  out  for  the  service  one  half  of 
their  male  inhabitants,  negroes  included,  every  day,  to 
work  at  the  fortifications  in  that  County ;  and  to  take 
with  them  their  spades,  pickaxes  and  hoes,  and  begin  to 
work  on  Friday  next. 

"  7.  That  a  guard  of  six  of  the  troop  of  horse  of  said 
County,  under  such  person  as  shall  from  time  to  time  be 
appointed  by  the  Provincial  Congress,  shall  be  constantly 
posted  at  some  convenient  height  near  the  west  end  of 
Nassau,  or  Long  Island,  to  reconnoitre  the  entrance  of 
any  enemy  into  Sandy  Hook,  or  appearing  on  the  coast, 
and  to  give  immediate  intelligence  to  the  Congress,  or 
commanding  officer  of  the  continental  troops  at  this 
place,  as  occasion  may  require. 

"  8.  That  the  Provincial  Congress  issue  an  order, 
to  the  Committee  of  Cow-neck  and  Great-neck,  for  a 
like  number  of  horsemen  from  Queen's  County,  to  keep 
a  look-out  at  Thomas  Cornwall's,  at  Rockaway,  for  the 
same  purpose. 

"  9.  That  orders  issue  to  the  Colonels  of  the  regi- 
ments in  Orange,  on  the  south  side  of  the  mountains,  to 
draft  one  hundred  men  to  be  sent  immediately  to  this 
City,  armed  and  accoutred  in  the  best  manner   possible. 

"  10.  That  the  like  orders  issue  to  the  Colonels  of 
Westchester  and  Duchess,  for  two  hundred  men  each, 
for  like  purposes." 

This  course  of  preparation  was  pursued  by  Lord 
Stirling  until  he  was  superseded  in  the  command  by  his 
senior  officer  Brigadier  General  Thompson  ;  about  which 
time  he  received  the  following  from  the  General  com- 
manding the  department. 


148  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

Major  General  Schuyler  to  B.  &.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"Albany,  March  16th,  1776. 

"My  Dear  Lord, — Hudson's  River  is  now  dear  of 
ice,  and  that  in  the  Lakes  has  become  impassable  for  the 
passage  of  troops.  I  am  therefore  under  the  necessity 
of  detaining  them  here,  until  the  Lakes  can  be  passed  by 
water.  Batteaus,  and  every  thing  is  prepared  to  convey 
the  troops  and  stores. 

"  Be  so  good  as  to  let  me  have  a  return  of  the  troops 
under  your  command,  that  I  may  be  able  properly  to 
dispose  of  the  regiment  raising  in  this  quarter.  Eight 
tons  of  powder  arrived  yesterday  from  Philadelphia. — 
The  cannon  and  shot  from  New-York  are  not  yet  come 
up.  The  moment  the  troops,  cannon,  and  powder,  are 
embarked  at  Lake  George,  I  propose  joining  you.  My 
health  is  much  re-established,  and  I  have  great  hopes  1 
shall  not  soon  experience  a  relapse.* 

"  I  am,  &c." 

On  the  day  previous  to  General  Thompson's  arrival 
Lord  Stirling  made  the  following  Report  to  Congress. 

B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  New-York,  March  19th,  1776. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  have  this  evening,  by  express,  re- 
ceived the  two  enclosed  letters  from  General  Washing- 
ton. I  have  communicated  the  contents  of  them  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  of  this  Province,  and  shall  meet 
them  to-morrow  morning,  to  consult  on  such  measures  as 
necessarily  arise  from  this  intelligence.     The  Congress 

*  General  Schuyler  was  at  this  time,    subject  to  frequent  and  severe  attacks  of 
and   during  the  remainder  of  his  life,     gout. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  149 

may  be  assured  that  every  step  will  be  taken  to  prepare 
this  place  for  the  reception  of  the  enemy.  The  work  is 
great ;  not  a  moment  of  my  time  is  left  unemployed  in 
effecting  it. 

"  I  had  the  honour  of  receiving  your  letter  of  the 
16th  instant,  last  night;  in  consequence  of  which  I 
ordered  five  tons  of  the  powder  destined  for  Cambridge, 
to  proceed  immediately,  and  the  rest  to  follow  as  soon  as 
it  could  be  shifted  into  proper  barrels, — which  would 
have  been  accomplished  to-morrow, — and  sent  forward, 
but  on  this  intelligence  from  General  Washington,  and  a 
message  which  this  express  brings  from  Colonel  Mifflin,* 
that  every  thing  on  the  road  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge 
be  stopped,  and  sent  to  this  place,  1  have  ordered  the 
whole  eleven  tons  of  powder  to  be  stored  here. 

"  You  may  depend  upon  it,  Sir,  that  General  Howe 
at  first  intended  a  feint,  in  hopes  of  preventing  General 
Washington  from  possessing  himself  of  the  heights  of 
Dorchester ;  and  finding  the  bait  did  not  take,  the  dis- 
tress of  his  army,  and  his  uneasy  situation  after  that 
post  was  secured,  obliged  him,  in  the  utmost  hurry  and 
confusion,  to  make  a  real  embarkation  of  his  army.  I 
have  written  a  free  letter  to  General  Lee  on  our  situa- 
tion here,  which  with  the  other  from  General  Washing- 
ton to  him,  (after  the  Congress  has  perused  them,)  you 
will  be  so  good  as  to  forward  to  him,  if  he  has  left 
Philadelphia. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


The  following  was  enclosed  in  the  above. 


*  Thomas  Mifflin,  afterwards  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  then  Quarter-Master- 
General. 


150  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

General  Washington  to  B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Cambridge,  March  19th,  1776. 

"  Mv  Lord, — I  am  now  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  favour  of  the  11th  instant,  and  to  give  you  every 
congratulation  upon  your  late  appointment  by  the  hon- 
ourable Congress. 

"  If  the  intelligence  is  true,  and  to  be  depended  on, 
which  was  brought  by  the  gentlemen  to  New-York,  I 
think  with  you,  that  we  shall  have  an  opportunity  of 
securing  and  putting  the  continent  in  a  tolerable  posture 
of  defence,  and  that  the  operations  of  the  summer's  cam- 
paign will  not  be  so  terrible  as  we  were  taught  to  expect 
from  the  accounts  and  communications  which  the  Minis- 
try have  held  forth  to  the  public. 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  on  the 
morning  of  the  17th  instant  General  Howe  and  his  army 
abandoned  the  town  of  Boston  without  destroying  it, 
an  event  of  much  importance,  and  which  must  be  heard 
with  great  satisfaction,  and  that  we  are  now  in  full  pos- 
session. Their  embarkation  and  retreat  were  hurried 
and  precipitate  ;  and  they  have  left  behind  them  stores 
of  one  thing  and  another  to  a  considerable  amount, 
among  which  are  several  pieces  of  heavy  cannon,  and 
one  or  two  mortars,  which  are  spiked.  The  town  is  in 
a  much  better  situation  and  less  injured  than  I  expected 
from  the  reports  I  had  received  ; — though,  to  be  sure, 
it  is  much  damaged,  and  many  houses  despoiled  of  their 
valuable  furniture.  The  fleet  is  still  in  King's  and 
Nantasket  roads;  and  where  they  intend  to  make  a 
descent  next,  is  altogether  unknown ;  but  supposing 
New-York  to  be  an  object  of  much  importance,  and  to 
be  their  view,  I  must  recommend  your  most  strenuous 
and  active  exertions  in  preparing  to  prevent  any  designs 
or  attempts  they  may  have  or  make   against  it.     I  have 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  15! 

detached  the  Riflemen,  and  five  battalions  hence,  to  your 
assistance,  which  will  be  followed  by  others  as  circum- 
stances will  allow.  These,  with  what  forces  you  have, 
and  can  assemble,  if  there  should  be  an  occasion,  1  trust 
will  be  sufficient  to  hinder  the  enemy  from  possessing  the 
city,  and  making  a  lodgment,  till  the  main  body  of  this 
army  can  arrive. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  following  answer  to  General  Schuyler's  last 
letter,  exhibits  the  preparations  made  by  Lord  Stirling 
to  receive  the  enemy  at  New-York,  when  he  relinquished 
the  command  of  that  post. 

B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Major  General  Schuyler. 

"New-York,  March  20th,  1776. 

"  My  Dear  General, — I  had  the  honour  of  receiving 
your  letter  of  the  16th,  this  day.  The  important  in- 
telligence received  within  the  last  three  days  from  Gen- 
eral Washington,  of  General  Howe's  preparations  for 
embarking  his  army  at  Boston,  I  have  not  communicated 
to  you,  as  I  concluded  that  the  same  intelligence  would 
reach  you  at  Albany,  at  least  as  soon  as  it  came  to  this 
place.  Indeed,  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  write  to  you 
sooner  than  this  moment.  My  whole  time  has  been 
employed  in  making  arrangements  for  the  defence  of  this 
place. 

"  The  troops  here,  consisting  of  the  first  battalion, 
from  New  Jersey,  about  five  hundred  men,  sick  and 
well,  and  two  regiments  from  Connecticut,  about  five 
hundred  each,  whose  time  of  service  expires  on  Monday 
next,  and  I  am  fearful  I  shall  not  be  able  to  persuade 
them  to  stay  longer.  We  have  besides  about  five  hundred 
minute-men  from  the  Counties  of  Westchester  and  Duch- 


152  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

ess,  and  about  two  hundred  militia  from  New  Jersey, 
This  is  our  whole  army  at  present ;  but  I  cannot  send 
you  an  exact  return,  as  some  of  the  latter  have  only  ar- 
rived to-day,  and  I  have  not  yet  received  a  report  from 
the  reviewing  officer.  The  whole  of  these,  except  the 
necessary  guards,  are  employed  on  fatigue,  on  this,  and 
Long  Island,  in  executing  the  fortifications  agreed  on 
between  General  Lee  and  myself.  In  these  works,  we 
are  assisted  by  about  one  thousand  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  City,  who  have  turned  out  on  this  occasion  with  great 
alacrity, — the  inhabitants  and  negroes  taking  their  tour 
of  duty  regularly  ;  and  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  see 
that,  according  to  the  numbers,  the  work  goes  on  ama- 
zingly well. 

"■  On  considering  the  whole  of  the  intelligence  from 
Boston,  I  am  of  opinion  that  General  Howe  has  been 
playing  off  manoeuvres  to  divert  General  Washington 
from  taking  full  possession  of  the  ground  at  Dorchester, 
Yet  by  the  last  accounts  he  has  proceeded  too  for  in  his 
embarkation  to  leave  us  room  to  think  it  all  a  feint.  That 
General  Washington  is  of  that  opinion,  I  can  have  no 
longer  a  doubt,  as  he  is  himself  preparing  soon  to  be  at 
this  place.  Some  part  of  his  army  is  on  its  way  hither. 
The  destination  of  the  remainder  must  depend  on  cir- 
cumstances. 

"Brigadier  General  Thompson  is  this  afternoon 
arrived  from  Philadelphia,  and,  of  course,  has  the  com- 
mand. 

"■I  am,  &c." 

Lord  Stirling  had  hardly  relinquished  his  command, 
before  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  learning  that  his  re- 
quest of  further  aid  from  Connecticut,  had,  as  already 
intimated,  been  anticipated. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  J  53 

Governor  Trumbull  to  B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Lebanon,  March  21st,  1776. 

"  My  Lord, — I  received  your  favour  of  the  17th,  the 
last  evening,  by  Lieutenant  Betts.  I  have  now,  on  this 
commencement  of  correspondence,  to  congratulate  you 
on  your  late  appointment,  and  from  your  known  zeal  in 
the  great  American  cause,  and  your  abilities  to  serve  it, 
I  cannot  but  form  pleasing  expectations.  I  have  also  to 
congratulate  you  on  the  shameful  retreat  of  General 
Howe  and  his  army  from  Boston  ;  which  they  actually 
abandoned,  and  a  detachment  of  General  Washington's 
army  took  possession,  the  last  Sabbath  day.  They  have 
left  it  in  a  less  ruinous  situation  than  was  expected  ; — 
their  own  works  entire,  and  about  thirty  large  cannon 
spiked  up,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  wheat.  They 
are  lying  in  the  Road  ;  supposed  waiting  for  a  wind, — 
very  probably  designing  a  descent  upon  New-York,  or 
parts  adjacent.  I  am  extremely  pleased  to  hear  you  are 
taking  every  step  in  your  power  to  be  prepared  for  their 
reception.  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  prevent 
their  establishing  themselves  there. 

"  His  excellency  General  Washington,  well  aware 
of  their  designs,  had,  by  his  letter  of  the  14th,  earnestly 
requested  me  to  throw  in  two  thousand  men  from  this 
Colony,  for  the  same  purposes  mentioned  and  requested 
by  your  Lordship's  letter,  until  be  could  arrive  there  with 
the  army  under  his  command  ;  large  detachments  of 
which  are  now  on  their  march.  In  consequence  of  which, 
I  had,  with  the  advice  of  my  Council  of  Safety,  despatch- 
ed orders  on  the  19th,  for  nearly  that  number  of  our  militia 
to  march  forthwith  from  the  nearest  frontiers  of  this 
Colony,  to  New-York,  under  the  command  of  Colonels 


154  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

Silliman  and  Talcott.  It  is  not  time  yet  to  hear  what 
progress  they  have  made  ;  but  I  hope  and  believe,  as 
good  as  the  nature  of  the  thing  will  admit,  and  that  they 
will  very  soon  be  with  you. 

"  Thus  I  have — and  I  have  no  doubt  you  will  have — 
much  pleasure  to  find  your  request  anticipated.  I  am 
happy  to  hear  that  our  regiments  now  with  you  have  done 
themselves  the  honour  to  merit  your  approbation,  and  I 
have  no  doubt,  but  they,  and  our  men  in  general,  will 
continue  to  do  so,  and  serve  their  country  well,  while  they 
meet  with  generous  usage  from  their  commanders,  and 
have  no  doubt  they  will  ever  experience  it  from  a  noble- 
man of  your  distinguished  generosity  and  politeness. 

"  I  expect  and  depend  that  Colonel  Waterbury's  and 
Ward's  regiments  will  remain  in  the  service,  or  the 
greater  part  of  them,  until  they  can  be  properly  relieved 
and  spared,  and  I  have  wrote  them  accordingly.  You 
will  please  to  repeat  to  them  my  request  for  this  purpose, 
and  state  that  in  the  highest  probability,  great  part  of 
the  main  army  will  soon  be  there.  The  troops  now 
sending  from  us,  you  will  perceive,  wrere  requested  by 
the  General  until  they  might  be  relieved  by  his  army. 
If  it  should  be  necessary  to  have  a  regiment  raised  and 
stationed  there  for  the  season,  you  may  rely  on  it,  that 
nothing  in  my  power  will  be  wanting  to  serve  this  great 
and  just  cause  in  this,  or  any  other  way. 

"  Colonel  Dyar  and  Colonel  Williams,  two  gentle- 
men of  my  Council,  will  wait  on  you  next  week,  on  their 
way  to  Philadelphia,  and  will  be  instructed  to  confer 
with  your  Lordship  on  this,  or  any  other  subject  you 
may  think  proper,  whereby  the  common  interest  of  this 
much  injured  country  may  be  promoted. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  ]  55 

While  Lord  Stirling  was  thus  sustained  in  the  mea- 
sures he  was  pursuing  for  the  defence  of  New- York,  by 
co-operation  from  the  neighbouring  Colony,  he  was  en- 
couraged to  persevere  by  the  approbation  of  his  superior 
in  the  Department. 

Major  General  Schuyler  to  B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

•'  Albany,  March  20th,  1776. 

"My  Dear  Lord, — I  am  honoured  with  your  Lord- 
ship's favour  of  the  10th  instant,  and  also  with  a  letter 
from  the  honourable  President  Hancock,  advising  of  what 
your  Lordship  observed  of  the  military  arrangements 
made  by  Congress.  I  am  ordered  to  continue  the  head- 
quarters in  this  City  until  further  orders,  that  I  may  be 
able  to  superintend  the  necessary  supplies  of  provisions, 
military  stores,  &c,  for  the  army  in  Canada.  General 
Thomas  is  to  command  in  Canada. 

"  I  am  clearly  of  opinion  with  your  Lordship,  that 
the  number  of  men  you  mention,  will  be  necessary  to 
defend  New-York  and  its  environs,  and  to  carry  on  the 
works  that  must  be  erected ;  and  it  alarms  me  greatly  to 
find  that  the  Connecticut  troops  are  to  leave  you  on  the 
25th  instant.  At  this  critical  juncture  such  a  diminution 
of  force  is  by  no  means  prudent,  and  I  wish  (if  they 
should  not  be  moved  by  the  time  this  reaches  you,) 
that  they  were  detained  until  you  could  communicate 
your  thoughts  on  the  subject  to  Congress,  and  learn 
their  determination.  I  am  the  more  anxious  to  have 
them  detained,  as  the  levies  in  this  part  of  the  Colony 
go  on  with  great  tardiness,  as  well  as  in  your  quarter ; 
and  when  completed,  which  will  certainly  be  late,  will 
be  ill-armed. 


156  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

"  Could  I  have  the  vanity  to  flatter  myself  with  supe- 
rior skill  in  preparing  a  place  for  defence,  to  either  your 
Lordship  or  General  Thompson — which  I  very  sincerely 
assure  you  that  I  do  not — yet  it  would  be  very  improper, 
at  this  distance,  to  prescribe  a  line  of  conduct  to  you. 
I  can  suggest  nothing  which  your  own  good  judgment 
will  not  anticipate  from  your  immediate  view  of  things  : 
a  variety  of  circumstances  may  arise,  which  no  man  at 
this  distance  can  know  or  foresee. 

"  The  interposition  of  France  in  our  favour,  besides 
the  immediate  good  effect  of  preventing  foreign  troops 
from  coming  to  America,  will,  I  hope,  raise  a  dust  against 
the  Ministry  for  having  so  confidently  declared  that  that 
power  would  not  interfere.  I  have,  in  the  whole  course 
of  the  winter,  ventured  to  declare  to  the  French  prisoners 
and  others  going  to  Canada,  that  we  had  assurances  of 
the  friendly  disposition  of  France  towards  us.  It  can- 
not be  supposed  that  the  ancient  affection  of  the  Cana- 
dians for  the  French,  is  altogether  eradicated  ;  and  if 
they  believe  that  the  Grand  Monarque  is  in  our  favour, 
they  will  act  the  more  vigorously  for  us. 

"  I  am  &c." 

Upon  delivering  up  the  command  at  New- York  to 
General  Thompson,  and  possessing  him  of  the  necessa- 
ry information  in  regard  to  the  measures  he  had  adopt- 
ed, and  the  works  he  had  erected  for  the  defence  of  that 
city,  Lord  Stirling  repaired  to  New  Jersey,  in  order, 
by  his  personal  influence  and  presence,  to  expedite 
measures  for  putting  the  eastern  part  of  that  Province 
also  in  a  state  of  defence.  With  this  view  he  address- 
ed himself  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  Province, 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  j  57 

and  to  Brigadier  General  Livingston,  in  the  following 
letters. 

B.    G.   the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Samuel  Tueker,  Esq., 
Chairman,  &c. 

"  Elizabethtown,  March  23rd,  1776. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  have  just  received  the  enclosed  let- 
ters from  General  Washington,  and  Brigadier  General 
Thompson.  From  them,  you  will  see  the  necessity  of 
every  Province  contiguous  to  New-York,  exerting  them- 
selves in  sending  troops  to  that  place  to  assist  in  fortify- 
ing and  defending  it;  and  also  in  defending  and  fortify- 
ing such  parts  of  this  Province  as  are  most  liable  and 
likely  to  be  invaded.  With  an  attention  to  the  latter,  I 
came  over  from  New- York  yesterday,  in  order  to  view 
the  grounds  and  heights  of  Bergen  Neck,  the  Kill  van 
Kull,  and  Staten  Island.  1  was  prevented  by  bad  weath- 
er from  proceeding  so  far  in  this  as  I  could  have  wished; 
but,  on  the  whole,  I  think  the  militia  of  the  Counties  of 
Bergen,  Essex,  and  Middlesex,  should  be  immediately 
employed  in  fortifying  Amboy,  Elizabethtown  Point, 
the  Kill,  and  Bergen  Neck,  with  Powles'  Hook.  I  shall 
communicate  my  plan  to  Brigadier  General  Livingston, 
and  shall  return  to  New- York  to-morrow  morning,  and 
will  be  over  here  again  in  a  day  or  two,  and  bring  some 
assistant  Engineers  with  me,  in  order  to  lay  out  such 
works  as  General  Thompson  shall  approve  of.  In 
the  mean  time,  I  hope  your  Committee  of  Safety  will, 
without  delay,  direct  the  militia  before  mentioned,  to  be 
employed  in  the  way  above  suggested  ;  and  also  direct 
the  militia  of  the  interior  Counties  to  march  either  to  the 
succour  of  New-York,  or  to  the  most  exposed  parts  of  this 
Province,  as  may  be  found  necessary. 


158  THE  LIFE  0F  L°RD  STIRLING. 

"  There  is  a  Resolution  of  Congress,  passed  a  few 
days  ago,  that  such  militia  of  this  Province  as  are  called 
Upon  for  the  service  of  fortifying  and  defending  New- 
York,  shall  receive  pay  agreeable  to  the  establishment  of 
the  Continental  troops  in  the  Middle  department ;  and 
as  these  works  proposed  in  New  Jersey,  are  with  the 
view  to  the  same  point,  1  make  not  the  least  doubt  but 
the  troops  employed  in  them  will  be  put  on  the  same 
footing.  For  the  further  satisfaction  of  your  Committee  of 
Safety,  they  can  send  a  copy  of  this  letter  to  Congress, 
and  know  their  determination  of  this  matter.  But,  for 
God's  sake  do  not,  at  this  critical  moment,  suffer  any 
delay  in  your  directions  for  the  march  of  the  militia  from 
the  interior  Counties,  nor  for  the  employment  of  the 
others  in  the  works  of  defence,  which  may  be  found  ne- 
cessary. 

"  I  am  &c." 

B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Brigadier  General  Liv- 
ingston. 

"  Elizabethtown,  March  24th,  1776. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  now  enclose  you  copies  of  a  letter 
from  General  Washington  of  the  19th,  one  from  Briga- 
dier General  Thompson,  of  yesterday's  date,  and  an- 
other from  me  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  this  Prov- 
ince. From  these,  you  will  see  the  necessity  of  putting 
the  eastern  part  of  this  Province,  as  well  as  New- York, 
in  an  immediate  state  of  defence.  From  the  conversa- 
tion 1  have  had  with  you  on  the  subject,  you  know  my 
sentiments  with  regard  to  fortifying  the  several  places 
mentioned  in  the  letter  to  the  Committee.  I  think  it 
highly  necessary,  also,  to  possess  some  commanding 
height  on  Staten  Island.     The  men  employed  in  these 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  ]  59 

works,  will  be  in  the  most  proper  places  to  guard  the 
Province  ;  and  I  should  think  the  militia  of  the  Coun- 
ties of  Bergen,  Essex,  and  Middlesex,  would  be  suffi- 
cient, if  only  one  third  of  them  were  employed  weekly 
on  the  works. 

"  The  militia  of  the  interior  Counties  oughi  to  be 
sent  forward  to  New- York  as  soon  as  possible  ;  and  you 
may  be  assured  that  as  soon  as  they  can  be  spared  from 
thence,  they  will  be  sent  over  again  to  New  Jersey,  or 
to  Staten  Island,  for  the  purpose  before  mentioned  ; 
and  in  case  the  enemy  should  attempt  to  land  their 
army  in  New  Jersey,  a  very  considerable  part  of  our 
army  in  New-York  will  be  detached  to  oppose  them. 
I  shall  only  add  that  as  soon  as  you  shall  inform  Gener- 
al Thompson  or  me,  when  the  men  of  those  (three) 
Counties  will  be  ready  to  go  to  work,  I  will  attend  with 
the  Chief  Engineer  to  mark  out  the  grounds  most  ne- 
cessary to  be  fortified. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

On  his  return  to  New  York,  Lord  Stirling  received 
the  following  note  from  Dr.  Franklin,  who,  with  others, 
had  been  appointed  by  Congress,  to  proceed  as  a  Com- 
mittee, to  Albany,  upon  a  visit  to  the  army  destined  for 
the  invasion  of  Canada. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin  to  B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Brunswick,  March  27th,  1776. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — 1  received  your  obliging  letter 
some  time  since  at  Philadelphia,  but  our  deputation  from 
thence  being  uncertain,  I  could  not  until  now,  acquaint 
your  Lordship  when  we  expected  to  be  in  New- York. 
We  move  but  slowly,  and  think  we  shall  scarcely  reach 


]gO  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

farther  than  Newark  to-morrow ;  so  that  we  cannot 
have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  your  Lordship  before  Fri- 
day. Being  myself,  from  long  absence,  as  much  a 
stranger  in  New-York  as  the  other  gentlemen,  we  join 
in  requesting  you  would  be  so  good  as  to  cause  lodgings 
to  be  provided  for  us,  and  a  sloop  engaged  to  carry  us 
to  Albany.  There  are  five  of  us,  and  we  propose  stay- 
ing in  New- York  two  nights  at  least. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

In  consequence  of  General  Thompson's  being  order- 
ed to  Canada,  the  chief  command  at  New-York  again 
devolved  on  Lord  Stirling,  and  he  continued  to  hold  it 
until  the  arrival  of  General  Washington  with  the  main 
army  from  the  eastward.  During  this  interval  he  la- 
boured at  the  completion  of  the  works  for  the  defence  of 
the  city  and  harbour  of  New-York.  The  principal  fort 
on  the  island  of  New- York,  was  erected  on  that  part  of 
Harlaem  heights  which  overlooks  the  Hudson,  and  re- 
ceived the  name  of  Fort  Washington.  That  opposite  to 
it,  on  the  Jersey  shore,  he  called  Fort  Lee.  Smaller 
works  were  constructed  at  Horen's  Hook,  and  Throg's 
Neck,  for  the  defence  of  the  passage  by  water,  at  Hell- 
gate  ;  while  the  approach  to  the  city  by  land,  was 
guarded  by  a  redoubt  at  McGowan's  pass,  a  narrow  de- 
file near  the  village  of  Harlaem.  A  line  of  fortified  en- 
trenchments was  also  drawn  on  Long  Island,  across  the 
peninsula  between  the  Wallaboght  and  Gowannis  bays, 
and  forts  were  erected  or  repaired  at  Red  Hook  and  the 
Narrows,  and  on  the  small  islands  in  the  harbour. 

General  Washington  arrived  with  the  American 
army  on  the  14th  of  April ;  but  it  was  late  in  June 
before  the  first  division  of  the  British  troops  arrived  at 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  \Q\ 

Sandy  Hook.  The  rear  soon  followed,  accompanied  by 
General  Howe  in  person.  Passing  the  Narrows  with 
his  whole  force,  he  landed  at  Staten  Island,  where  Gen- 
eral Washington  had  placed  a  small  force  merely  for  the 
purpose  of  driving  off  the  stock,  which  might  otherwise 
have  served  to  supply  the  invading  army.  Here  the 
British  General  resolved  to  await  reinforcements  from 
England,  which  were  already  on  their  passage  on  board 
a  fleet  commanded  by  his  brother,  Lord  Howe,  who, 
with  a  part  only  of  his  force,  arrived  at  Staten  Island  on 
the  12th  of  July. 

It  was  the  middle  of  August  before  the  reinforce- 
ments of  the  enemy  had  all  arrived.  His  force  then 
consisted  of  about  twenty-five  thousand  men  ;  while  the 
American  army,  including  officers  and  men  of  every 
description,  amounted  nominally  to  something  above 
twenty  thousand  ;  but  from  sickness  and  absences,  there 
were  left  but  a  few  more  than  eleven  thousand,  besides 
officers,  fit  for  duty.  Many  of  these  were  militia,  sud- 
denly called  from  their  homes,  unaccustomed  to  arms 
and  to  the  exposure  and  hardships  of  a  military  life ; 
and  this  small  force  was  distributed  from  Brooklyn  to 
Kingsbridge,  over  a  space  of  fifteen  miles.  An  attack 
from  the  enemy  was  daily  expected ;  but  before  it  was 
made,  General  Washington  was  reinforced  by  about 
three  thousand  New-York  Militia,  under  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral George  Clinton,  who  formed  an  encampment  at 
Kingsbridge, — three  thousand  from  Connecticut,  two 
battalions  of  riflemen  from  Pennsylvania,  one  from 
Maryland,  and  a  regiment  from  Delaware  ;  increasing 
his  numbers  to  about  twenty-seven  thousand,  of  whom, 
one-fourth  were  reported  to  be  sick,  and  incapable  of 
service. 

11 


|62  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

After  delaying  until  the  26th  of  August,  the  British 
army  crossed  to  Long  Island,  and  made  good  their  land- 
ing near  the  villages  of  Gravesend  and  New  Utrecht 
under  cover  of  a  cannonade  from  the  fleet.  Their  ap- 
parent design  was  to  cross  the  island,  and  reach  the  City 
by  the  ferries  over  the  East  River.  In  anticipation  of 
this  movement,  General  Washington  had  posted  a  body 
of  troops  at  Brooklyn  opposite  to  the  City,  in  a  position 
secured  on  the  land  side  by  the  chain  of  redoubts  and 
entrenchments  thrown  up  by  Lord  Stirling,  and  defend- 
ed towards  the  water  by  batteries  constructed  by  him 
at  Red  Hook  and  Governor's  Island. 

The  centre  of  the  British  army  occupied  a  plain  on 
the  opposite  side  of  a  range  of  hills  extending  from  the 
Narrows  to  the  village  of  Flatbush.  The  left  wing, 
formed  near  the  coast  at  New  Utrecht,  was  commanded 
by  Major  General  Grant,*  an  officer  who  had  served  in 
America  during  the  former  war,  and  was  now,  and  had 
for  some  years  been,  a  member  of  Parliament.  A  detach- 
ment under  Lord  Stirling,  consisting  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania, Maryland,  and  Delaware  regiments,  was  order- 
ed out  to  meet  him,f  and  encountered  the  superior 
force  opposed  to  them  with  signal  bravery  and  stead- 
iness, contesting  every  foot  of  ground,  until  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  with  a  part  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  division  fell 

*  A  greater  interest  attached  to  their  headed    by  that    very   General    Grant, 

meeting   from   the     circumstance     that  "  He  may  have,"  said  he,  "  his  five  thou- 

Lord  S.  when   in  England    had  heard  sand  men  with  him  now — we  are  not  so 

Grant,  in  a  debate  in  the  House  of  Com-  many — but  I  think  we  are  enough  to 

mons  on   American  affairs,  declare  that  prevent    his   advancing   further   on  his 

he  would  undertake  to  march  from  one  march,  over    the   continent,   than   that 

end  of  the   continent  to  the  other  with  mill-pond."     The  effect  of  this  speech 

5000  men.     Lord  Stirling,  after  forming  is   related  in  the  text.      MS.  Diary  of 

his   troops   to    receive    the  enemy,  told  Lord  S. 

them    of    this    bravado,   and   informed         t  Sparks' Life  of  Washington,  p.  177. 
them   that  the  advancing   column  was 


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BATTl-IS  Of  LO.Vii  ISLAAU 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLLVG.  153 

upon  their  rear,  bringing  them  between  two  fires,  and 
compelling  them  to  retire.  To  secure  the  retreat  of  the 
main  body  of  his  detachment.  Lord  Stirling  in  person, 
at  the  head  of  about  four  hundred  of  the  [Maryland 
regiment,  had  attacked  with  great  spirit  a  corps  stationed 
under  Cornwallis,  in  a  house  at  some  short  distance 
above  the  place  at  which  he  proposed  to  cross  the  Gow- 
annis  creek,  and  was  upon  the  point  of  dislod^ins:  him, 
when  the  force  in  front  of  the  Americans  increasing,  and 
Grant  pressing  on  their  rear,  they  were  no  longer  able 
to  withstand  the  superior  numbers  that  assailed  them  on 
every  quarter,  and,  with  their  General,  were  compelled 
to  surrender  themselves  prisoners.*  His  object  was 
nevertheless  effected,  in  the  escape  of  the  main  body  of 
his  force.  The  courage  and  good  conduct  of  Lord 
Stirling  and  his  troops,  on  this  occasion,  were  universally 
acknowledged.  He  was  himself  conducted  on  board  the 
flag-ship  of  Lord  Howe,  where  he  remained  until  he 
was  exchanged.  In  the  interval  he  addressed  the  fol- 
lowing letter  to  the  Commander-in-Chief: — 

B.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  General  Washington. 

'■■  E    _  August.  1776. 

"My  Dear  General, — I  hare  now  an  opportunity 
of  informing  you  of  what  ha$  happened  to  me,  since  I 
last  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you. 

•;  About  3  o'clock  of  the  morning  of  the  27th,  I  was 
called  up  and  informed  by  General  Putnam,  that  the 
enemv  were  advancing  by  the  road  from  Flatbush  to 
the  Red  Lion  :  and  he  ordered  me  to  march  with  the 
two  regiments  nearest  at  hand,  to  meet  them.     These 

*  Marshall's  Life  of  Washington,  Vol.  IL  p.  445.     Sparks'  do.  17?. 


](54  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

happened  to  be  Haslett's  and  Smallwood's,  with  which 
I  accordingly  marched,  and  was  on  the  road  to  the 
Narrows  just  as  the  day-light  began  to  appear.  We 
proceeded  to  within  half  a  mile  of  the  Red  Lion,  and 
there  met  Colonel  Atlee,  with  his  regiment,  who  in- 
formed me  that  the  enemy  were  in  sight, — indeed,  I 
then  saw  their  front  between  us  and  the  Red  Lion.  I 
desired  Colonel  Atlee  to  place  his  regiment  on  the  left 
of  the  road,  and  to  wait  their  coming  up,  while  I  went 
to  form  the  two  regiments  I  had  brought  with  me  along 
a  ridge  from  the  road  up  to  a  piece  of  wood  on  the  top 
of  the  hill.  This  was  done  instantly,  on  very  advanta- 
geous ground. 

"  Our  opponents  advanced,  and  were  fired  upon  in 
the  road   by  Atlee's  regiment,  who  after  two  or  three 
rounds,  retreated  to   the   wood  on   my  left,  and  there 
formed.     By  this  time,  Kitchin's  riflemen  arrived  ;  part 
of  them  I  placed  along  a  hedge  under  the  front  of  tire 
hill,  and  the  rest  in  the  front  of  the  wood.     The  troops 
opposed  to  me  were  two  brigades  of  four  regiments  each 
under  the  command  of  General   Grant,  who  advanced 
his  light  troops  to  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of 
our  right  front,  and  then  took  possession  of  an  orchard 
there,  and  some  hedges  that  extended  towards  our  left. 
This  brought  on  an   exchange   of  fire  between    those 
troops  and  our  riflemen,   which  continued  about  two 
hours,  and  then  ceased  by  those  light  troops  retiring  to 
their  main  body.     In  the  mean  time  Captain  Carpenter 
brought  up  two  field-pieces,  which  were  placed  on  the 
side  of  the  hill  so  as  to  command  the  road,  and  the  only 
approach,   for  some  hundred  yards.      On  the   part  of 
General  Grant,  there  were  two  field-pieces :  one  howit- 
zer advanced  to  within  three  hundred  yards  of  the  front 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  {(55 

of  our  right,  and  a  like  detachment  of  artillery  to  the 
front  of  our  left.  On  a  rising  ground,  about  six  hundred 
yards  distant,  one  of  their  brigades  formed  in  two  lines 
opposite  our  right,  and  the  other  extended  in  one  line  to 
the  top  of  the  hills  in  front  of  our  left. 

"  In  this  position  we  stood  commanding  each  other 
until  about  eleven  o'clock,  when  I  found  that  General 
Howe,  with  the  main  body  of  the  army,  was  between 
me  and  our  lines,  and  I  found  the  only  chance  of  escap- 
ing being  all  made  prisoners  was  to  pass  the  creek  near 
the  yellow  mills ;  and  in  order  to  render  this  the  more 
practicable,  I  found  it  absolutely  necessary  to  attack  a 
body  of  troops  commanded  by  Lord  Cornwallis,  posted 
at  the  house  near  the  upper  mills.  This  I  instantly  did 
with  about  half  of  Smallwood's  regiment,  first  ordering 
all  the  other  troops  to  make  the  best  of  their  way 
through  the  creek.  We  continued  the  attack  a  consider- 
able time,  the  men  having  been  rallied,  and  the  attack 
renewed  five  or  six  several  times,  and  we  were  on  the 
point  of  driving  Lord  Cornwallis  from  his  station,  but 
large  reinforcements  rendered  it  impossible  to  do  more 
than  provide  for  safety.  I  endeavoured  to  get  in  be- 
tween that  house  and  Fort  Box,  but  on  attempting  it  I 
found  a  considerable  body  of  troops  in  my  front,  and 
several  in  pursuit  of  me  on  my  right  and  left,  and  a  con- 
stant firing  on  me.  I  immediately  turned  the  point  of  a 
hill,  which  covered  me  from  their  fire,  and  was  soon  out 
of  reach  of  my  pursuers,  but  as  soon  found  that  it  would 
be  in  vain  to  attempt  to  make  my  escape,  and  therefore 
went  to  surrender  myself  to  General  De  Heister,  the 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Hessians.* 

*  In  his  letter  to  Congress  of  the  31st     serves,  that  this  letter  of  Lord  Stirling's 
of    August,  General    Washington    ob-     "  is   not  as  full  and   certain  as  I  could 


155  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

The  disastrous  issue  of  this  battle  was  ascribed  by 
General  Washington,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  surprise 
suffered  by  the  two  detachments  posted  on  the  roads 
leading  through  the  wood  between  Brooklyn  and  Red 
Hook, — their  retreat  having  enabled  the  enemy  to  lead 
a  great  part  of  their  force  against  the  detachment  com- 
manded by  Lord  Stirling,  whose  bravery  and  resolution 
he  highly  commends. f  This  danger  had  been  foreseen 
by  General  Washington  ;  and  in  a  letter  to  General  Put- 
nam, who  had  been  sent  over  to  take  the  command  on 
Long  Island,  he  had  directed  him  particularly  to  attend 
to  that  wood,  and  secure  it  where  necessary  by  abattis, 
in  order  to  render  the  enemy's  approach  as  difficult  as 
possible.  It  was  moreover  unfortunate  that  General 
Greene,  who  was  to  have  had  the  chief  command  on 
the  Island,  without  the  lines,  was  taken  so  severely  ill  as 
to  be  confined  to  his  bed  ;  so  that  this  command  unex- 
pectedly devolved  on  General  Sullivan,  who  was  to  have 
commanded,  under  Putnam,  within  the  lines.  He  there- 
fore assumed  the  command  intended  for  Greene,  under 
circumstances  of  great  disadvantage,  which  he  subse- 
quently took  occasion  to  explain.  His  real  position,  and 
the  part  he  took  in  the  action,  were  described  by  that 
excellent  officer  himself,  in  a  letter  to  Congress  about 
fourteen  months  afterwards,  of  which  the  following  is  an 
extract,  dated  "  Whitemarsh,  October  25th,  1777:— I 
know  it  has  been  generally  reported  that  I  commanded 
on  Long  Island  when  the  action  happened  there.  This 
is  by  no  means  true.  General  Putnam  had  taken  the 
command  from  me  four  days  before  the  action.     Lord 

wish  ;  he  was  hurried  most  probahly,  as         *  See  his  letter,  Sparks"   Writings  of 
his    letter    was    unfinished."       Sparks'      Washington,  Vol.  IV.  p.  102. 
Writings  of    Washington,  Vol.  IV.  p. 
71. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  157 

Stirling  commanded  the  main  body  without  the  lines.  I 
was  to  have  commanded  under  General  Putnam  within 
the  lines.  I  was  uneasy  about  a  road  through  which  I 
had  often  foretold  the  enemy  would  come,  but  could  not 
persuade  others  to  be  of  my  opinion.  I  went  to  the 
hill  near  Flatbush  to  reconnoitre, — and  with  a  picket  of 
four  hundred  menHvas  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  who 
had  advanced  by  the  very  road  I  had  often  foretold,  and 
which  I  had  paid  horsemen  fifty  dollars  for  patrolling  by 
night,  while  I  had  the  command,  as  I  had  no  foot  for  that 
purpose.  What  resistance  I  made  with  these  four  hun- 
dred men  against  the  British  army,  I  leave  it  to  the  offi- 
cers who  were  with  me  to  declare.  Let  it  suffice  for  me 
to  say  that  the  opposition  of  the  small  party  lasted  from 
half-past  nine  to  twelve  o'clock." 

General  Washington  lost  no  time  in  endeavouring  to 
regain  the  services  of  Lord  Stirling.  Before  evacuating 
the  City,  he  proposed  to  General  Howe  to  exchange  him 
for  General  Donald  McDonald,  who  had  commanded  a 
party  of  Royalists  in  North  Carolina,  and  upon  being 
defeated  by  some  of  the  Militia  of  that  Province,  had 
been  captured  and  sent  to  Philadelphia.  This  was 
declined  by  General  Howe,  on  the  ground  of  the 
superior  rank  of  McDonald,  whom  he  had  commis- 
sioned as  a  Major  General ;  but  he  offered  to  exchange 
Lord  Stirling  for  Governor  Montfort  Brown  of  Florida. 
To  this  proposal,  General  Washington  readily  agreed, 
and  expressed  a  hope  that  Lord  Stirling  would  be  at 
once  set  at  liberty,  upon  the  promise  that  Governor 
Brown  should  be  sent  to  the  British  Head-Quarters  im- 
mediately upon  his  arrival  at  Philadelphia.  Accordingly, 
as  soon  as  Governor  Brown  reached  New- York,  the  ar- 
rangement was  completed. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

1776-1777. 

It  was  not  until  after  the  evacuation  of  New- York  by 
General  Washington,  that  Lord  Stirling  was  enabled  to 
rejoin  the  army.  He  continued  with  it  during  its 
memorable  retreat  through  New  Jersey ;  and  when  it 
was  conducted  to  its  winter  quarters  at  Morristown,  he 
was  ordered  to  take  command  on  the  lines  opposite  to  the 
enemy.  Here  he  was  engaged  in  frequent  skirmishes 
with  parties  of  the  British,  detached  on  various  expedi- 
tions into  the  country.  On  one  of  these  occasions  Lord 
Cornwallis  had  marched  out  in  force  from  Perth  Am  boy, 
and  advanced  as  far  as  the  Short-Hills,  near  Spring- 
field, with  the  view,  as  was  supposed,  of  breaking  up 
General  Washington's  winter  quarters  at  Morristown. 
Lord  Stirling  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  few  conti- 
nental troops  on  the  lines,  encountered  the  advance  of 
the  British  with  great  gallantry,  and  at  length,  when 
compelled  by  superior  numbers  to  retire,  he  took  so  ad- 
vantageous a  position  as  to  arrest  the  progress  of  the 
enemy  and  frustrate  his  design.* 

He  was  then  ordered  to  take  post  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  Delaware,  to  examine  the  shores  and  watch  the 
crossing  places,  and  in  the  event  of  the  enemy's  attempt- 

*  MS.  letter  of  Colonel  Aaron  Ogden,  late  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  who  was 
engaged  in  the  affair. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  159 

ing  to  pass  the  river,  to  repair  to  the  point  and  attack 
him.  If  his  efforts  proved  ineffectual  to  prevent  the  pas- 
sage of  the  enemy,  he  was  directed  to  retreat  towards 
Germantown.  These  cautionary  measures  were  duly 
executed,  and  deterred  the  enemy  from  attempting  at 
that  time  to  cross  the  Delaware.  Instead  therefore  of 
proceeding  to  Germantown,  Lord  Stirling  was  now  di- 
rected to  fall  back  upon  Princeton  to  watch  the  motions 
of  the  British,  while  the  Commander-in-Chief  himself 
fell  upon  the  Hessians  at  Trenton,  where  he  was  so  sig- 
nally successful  in  surprising  them  and  storming  their 
camp. 

On  the  19th  of  the  ensuing  February,  Lord  Stirling 
was  promoted  by  Congress  to  the  rank  of  Major  Gen- 
eral, and  ordered  to  join  the  main  army  at  Morristown. 
Upon  breaking  up  his  winter  quarters  at  that  place,  Gen- 
eral Washington  reassembled  his  troops  at  Middle  brook, 
in  the  adjoining  county  of  Somerset,  where  he  encamped 
behind  a  strong  and  commanding  range  of  hills  near  the 
Raritan,  whence  they  might  be  marched  with  great 
ease  and  expedition  to  the  defence  of  Philadelphia,  in 
case  the  enemy  should  attempt — as  was  apprehended — 
to  take  possession  of  that  place.  In  order,  however,  to 
cover  his  light  parties  on  the  lines  from  the  incursions  of 
the  enemy,  and  annoy  him  when  retreating  again  to 
Staten  Island,  General  Washington  afterwards  moved 
forward  to  Quibbletown,  about  seven  miles  nearer  to 
Amboy.  Lord  Stirling's  division  was  then  advanced  a 
few  miles  nearer  to  the  enemy,  in  order  to  co-operate  with 
the  parties  on  the  lines,  and  harass  the  enemy  on  his 
retreat.  With  the  view  of  bringing  on  an  engagement, 
and,  by  turning  the  left  wing  of  the  American  army,  to 
gain  possession  of  the  heights  in  its  rear,  Sir  William 


170  TIIE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

Howe  recalled  his  troops  from  Staten  Island,  and  made 
a  rapid  movement  in  two  columns  towards  Westfield. 
The  right,  under  Lord  Cornwallis,  took  the  road  through 
Wood  bridge  to  the  Scotch  Plains.  The  American  troops 
were  instantly  put  in  motion — regained  with  celerity 
their  camp  at  Middlebrook,  and  took  possession  of  the 
heights  which  the  enemy  had  intended  to  seize.  Lord 
Cornwallis,  on  his  route,  fell  in  with  Lord  Stirling,  and 
a  smart  skirmish  ensued  between  them,  in  which  the 
latter  was  driven  from  his  ground  with  the  loss  of  three 
pieces  of  cannon  and  a  few  men.  He  thence  retreated 
to  the  hills,  and  was  pursued  as  far  as  Westfield,  where 
the  column  led  by  Cornwallis  halted,  who,  finding  that 
his  adversary,  by  seizing  upon  the  passes,  had  defeated 
the  object  of  his  expedition,  returned  to  Amboy,  whence 
the  whole  British  army  crossed  to  Staten  Island. 

The  following  orders  and  report  relate  to  measures 
adopted  to  guard  in  future  against  similar  inroads. 

Major  General  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Lt.  Colonel 
Hollingsworth. 

"  Baskenridge,*  12th,  March,  1777. 

"  Sir, — I  have  ordered  a  party  of  one  hundred  men 
of  Colonel  Rumsey's  regiment,  one  hundred  and  thirty 
of  the  four  Virginia  companies  of  volunteers,  and  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  from  Colonel  Guyzer's  regi- 
ment, to  march  to  Quibbletown  to-morrow  morning  by 
eight  o'clock ;  of  which  troops  you  are  to  take  the  com- 
mand, and  proceed  with  them  to  that  place.  You  had 
better  march  the  detachment  of  Colonel  Rumsey's   by 

*  While  Lord  Stirling's  division  was     he  had  frequent  opportunities  of  paying 
quartered  in  the  vicinity  of  Baskenridge,     short  visits  to  his  family. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  |7[ 

seven  in  the  morning  by  way  of  Boyle's  mills,  to  the 
mouth  of  Dead  River,  by  Henry  Alvvood's.  Guyzer's 
will  join  you  at  Quibbletown.  You  may  provide  your- 
self with  a  guide  for  this  route  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
your  quarters. 

"  At  Quibbletown  you  will  find  Major  Butler,  whom 
you  are  to  relieve,  and  take  his  advice  how  best  to  main- 
tain your  post,  and  annoy  the  enemy  by  guards,  patroles, 
or  scouts.  If  the  enemy  should  press  hard  on  you,  you  are 
to  retire  to  the  gap  of  the  mountain  in  your  rear,  and  de- 
fend that  pass  in  the  best  manner  you  can,  giving  General 
Greene  and  myself  the  earliest  notice  of  whatever  passes 
of  any  importance.  You  are  to  remain  at  that  post  un- 
til you  are  relieved,  which  I  expect  will  be  in  two  or 
three  days,  by  troops  from  General  Maxwell,  as  orders 
are  given  for  that  purpose.  In  the  mean  time,  you  will 
give  the  enemy  all  the  annoyance  in  your  power,  and 
endeavour  as  often  as  possible  to  alarm  them  at  night, 
which  will  keep  them  out,  and  subject  them  to  a  great 
increase  of  the  disorders  of  the  season  of  the  year. 
There  are  guides  provided,  who  are  perfectly  well  ac- 
quainted with  that  part  of  the  country,  and  whom  Major 
Butler  will  point  out  to  you. 

"  The  motions  of  the  enemy  should  be  constantly 
watched,  and  on  any  advance,  notice  as  early  as  possible 
should  be  sent  to  the  neighbouring  post,  as  well  as  to  this 
place,  by  the  four  light-horsemen  who  are  attending  you 
for  that  purpose. 

"  March  13th.  Whenever  you  find  it  necessary  to  re- 
treat from  Quibbletown,  you  are  to  take  up,  or  destroy, 
the  bridges  over  the  streams  which  you  leave  behind  you. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


172  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

Colonel  Rumsey  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Quibbletown,  March  20th,  1777. 

"  My  Lord, — Agreeably  to  jour  Lordship's  order, 
although  late  in  the  day,  the  remaining  part  of  my  bat- 
talion marched  for  this  place,  the  wagons  and  one  of 
the  companies  not  yet  arrived,  owing,  I  suppose,  to  the 
time  they  set  off,  and  the  badness  of  the  road.  I  found 
Colonel  Hollingsworth  engaged  in  a  foraging  party  to  be 
executed  this  morning  ;  and,  by  information,  our  men 
are  much  fatigued  in  scouting,  guarding,  &c.  The  ex- 
tent we  have  to  guard  is  large  in  proportion  to  the  num- 
ber of  our  men.  Captain  George  Scott's  men  are  said 
to  be  extremely  active,  and  better  acquainted  with  the 
grounds  than  our  men,  and  part  of  them  being  on  the 
foraging  party  to-day,  would  rather  trust  to  your  Lord- 
ship's indulgence  than  dispirit  the  party  in  sending  Cap- 
tain Scott's  company  from  them  to-day.  Your  Lordship's 
orders,  by  the  light-horsemen  I  send  up,  respecting  Cap- 
tain Scott's  company,  shall  be  punctually  obeyed. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Information  was  now  received  by  Congress,  that  a 
formidable  army  from  Canada,  under  General  Burgoyne, 
was  approaching  Ticonderoga.  Lord  Stirling  was  there- 
upon detached  with  his  division  to  the  Hudson.  This 
movement  was  to  have  been  followed  by  the  whole 
army,  and  the  Commander-in-Chief  had  himself  pro- 
ceeded some  distance  on  his  march,  when  he  received 
information  that  Sir  William  Howe  had  embarked  nearly 
his  whole  force  on  board  the  fleet,  which  had  put  to 
sea.  The  American  army  was  forthwith  ordered  to  re- 
trace its  steps.     Lord  Stirling,  who  had  already  crossed 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 


173 


the  Hudson  at  the  foot  of  the  Highlands,  was  recalled, 
and  the  whole  army  pursued  different  routes  to  the 
Delaware,  where  the  Commander-in-Chief  resolved  to 
remain  until  he  received  further  intelligence  of  the  Brit- 
ish fleet. 

This  armament  was  soon  discovered  off  the  Capes 
of  Delaware,  and  its  destination  was,  of  course,  pre- 
sumed to  be  Philadelphia,  where  Congress  was  in  ses- 
sion. The  American  army  was  therefore  marched  to 
Germantown,  to  be  in  readiness  to  defend  the  seat  of  the 
Continental  Government.  No  more,  however,  was 
heard  of  the  enemy's  fleet  for  several  days,  when  it  was 
descried  in  the  Chesapeake,  which  it  had  already  as- 
cended about  two  hundred  miles.  General  Washington 
now  called  in  his  detachments,  and  the  whole  army  ad- 
vanced to  Wilmington  on  the  Delaware.  The  enemy 
was  soon  reported  to  have  landed  below  the  head  of  Elk. 
The  American  troops  were  posted  at  Redclay  Creek,  a 
few  miles  beyond  Wilmington,  with  pickets  advanced  to 
Christiana  bridge  ;  but  when  Sir  William  Howe,  after 
effecting  his  landing,  indicated  his  intention  of  outflank- 
ing the  American  right,  General  Washington  retired 
from  his  position,  crossed  the  Brandywine,  and  took  pos- 
session of  some  high  grounds  near  Chad's  ford.  Sir  Wil- 
liam Howe  then  advanced  to  within  seven  miles  of  that 
point,  and  at  daybreak  the  next  morning,*  put  his  army 
in  motion  in  two  divisions  ; — one,  under  the  Hessian 
General  Knyphausen,  taking  the  direct  road  to  Chad's 
ford ;  the  other,  led  by  Lord  Cornwallis,  moving  along  a 
road  nearly  parallel  with  the  river. 

On  perceiving  this  disposition  of  the  enemy's  force, 
General  Washington  formed  the  bold  design  of  detach- 

*  On  the  11th  of  September. 


174  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

ing  General  Sullivan  and  Lord  Stirling,  to  fall  on  the 
left  column  of  the  enemy  conducted  by  Lord  Cornwallis, 
while  he  should  himself  cross  at  Chad's  ford,  and  attack 
Knyphausen  with  the  centre  and  left  wing  of  the  army. 
But  from  contradictory  intelligence  as  to  the  movements 
of  the  enemy,  the  latter  part  of  the  plan  was  not  exe- 
cuted. The  uncertainty  produced  by  the  conflicting 
accounts  was  at  length  removed,  by  which  it  was  as- 
certained that  the  column  led  by  Lord  Cornwallis,  accom- 
panied by  Sir  William  Howe  in  person,  had,  after  a  cir- 
cuit of  seventeen  miles,  crossed  two  branches  of  the 
Brandywine  above  the  fork,  and  gained  the  heights  with- 
in two  miles  of  Sullivan's  right  flank ;  that  General  ad- 
vanced to  meet  him,  with  the  three  divisions  under  his 
command,  viz.,  his  own,  Lord  Stirling's,  and  General 
Stephen's ;  but  before  he  could  form  his  troops  for  ac- 
tion, Cornwallis  attacked  him  with  so  much  impetuosity, 
that,  after  a  short  resistance,  the  right  of  the  American 
line  was  broken,  the  residue  thrown  in  confusion,  and 
the  whole  compelled  to  a  precipitate  retreat.*    A  portion, 

*  The  brigade  of  the  French  General  particular  and  minute  account  of  that 
Deborre  was  the  first  to  break  the  line  ;  affair,  than  is  to  be  found  elsewhere. 
and  on  an  inquiry  being  ordered  into  his  It  states  that  "  the  confusion  created  by- 
conduct  by  Congress,  he  resigned.  A  the  contest  between  Sullivan  and  De- 
misunderstanding,  it  seems,  existed  be-  borre  spread  through  the  ranks.  In 
tween  this  officer  and  General  Sullivan,  attempting  to  rally  the  troops,  La  Fay- 
on  the  right  of  whose  division  he  was  ette  was  wounded  in  the  leg.  Sullivan, 
posted.  While  these  sheets  were  pass-  whose  own  brigade  was  retreating,  threw 
ing  through  the  press,  an  interesting  himself  with  Stirling  and  La  Fayette 
"  Sketch  of  the  Battle  of  Brandywine,"  personally  into  the  conflict,  and  a  most 
drawn  up  by  Messrs.  J.  S.  Bowen  and  heroic  stand  was  made,  these  officers 
J.  Smith  Futhey,  of  West  Chester,  Penn.,  continuing  to  maintain  their  ground 
and  accompanied  by  a  well  executed  undl  the  American  forces  were  complete- 
and  luminous  "  plan,"  has  been  published  ly  broken  and  the  enemy  within  twenty 
by  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylva-  yards  of  them,  when  they  escaped  into 
nia  ;  which,  although  modestly  styled  a  the  woods.  See  "  Bulletin  of  Hist.  Soc. 
"Sketch,"   contains  a  fuller  and  more  of  Penn.,Vo\.  I.  No.  7,  p.  11. 


.  p.  58. 


!  Am.  neon 
■  British 


BATTLE 


(  fCr;in^ii tiling  j 


-     \  mi.vvpiiTH 

Position  \ 


Gen!  Hows 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  I75 

however,  was  rallied,  and  took  another  stand,  where 
they  maintained  a  short  and  spirited  conflict,  until  again 
driven  from  their  ground  by  a  superior  force.  The  next 
day  General  Washington  retreated  in  the  direction  of 
Philadelphia,  and  encamped  near  Germantown.  After 
allowing  his  troops  a  day  for  rest  and  refreshment,  he 
recrossed  the  Schuylkill,  and  took  a  road  leading  to  the 
left  of  the  British  army,  fully  determined  again  to  offer  it 
battle.  The  two  armies  met  about  twenty-five  miles 
from  Philadelphia,  and  an  engagement  was  actually  be- 
gun, when  a  heavy  rain  came  on  and  put  an  end  to  it. 
Washington  retired  to  the  Yellow  Springs,  without  being 
followed  by  the  enemy,  and  eventually  once  more  crossed 
the  Schuylkill.* 

The  greater  part  of  the  British  army  was  now  encamp- 
ed at  Germantown, about  six  milesfrom  Philadelphia;  the 
remainder  being  quartered  in  that  city.  In  this  divided 
state  of  Sir  William  Howe's  forces,  the  American  Gen- 
eral formed  a  plan  for  surprising  them.  The  British  en- 
campment extended  across  the  village  of  Germantown, 
at  right,  angles  with  the  main  road.  The  Americans 
lay  at  Skippack,  about  fifteen  miles  off.  At  seven  in  the 
evening  of  the  third  of  October,  they  began  their  march 
by  four  routes,  that  they  might  approach  the  enemy  in 
the  order  of  battle,  under  the  expectation  that  the  whole 
would  arrive  at  their  respective  posts  at  nearly  the  same 
time.  The  right  wing,  composed  of  the  divisions  of 
Sullivan  and  Wayne,  flanked  by  Conway's  brigade,  and 
sustained  by  a  corps  de  reserve  consisting  of  Nash's  and 
Maxwell's  brigades,  commanded  by  Lord  Stirling,  were 

*  It  may  once  for  all  be  mentioned,  are  drawn,  are  the  Works  of  Marshall 
that  the  sources  from  which  these  and  and  Sparks,  and  the  authorities  therein 
similar   details    of   military   operations    referred  to. 


176  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

to  enter  the  town  by  a  road  leading  to  the  enemy's  cen- 
tre, while  General  Armstrong,*  with  the  Pennsylvania 
militia,  was  to  take  a  road  on  the  right  near  the  Schuyl- 
kill, and  gain  the  British  left  and  rear. 

The  plan  was  well  concerted,  and  the  surprise  com- 
plete ;  and  every  thing  seemed  to  promise  success,  when 
the  American  army  found  itself  obliged  to  retreat,  and 
leave  the  enemy  in  possession  of  the  field.  General 
Washington  ascribes  this  reverse  to  a  thick  fog,  which  at 
times  rendered  it  so  dark  that  the  troops  were  not  able 
to  distinguish  friend  from  foe  at  the  distance  of  thirty 
yards.  From  General  Sullivan's  account,  another  cir- 
cumstance appears  to  have  contributed  to  the  failure. 
The  enemy  had  thrown  a  large  body  of  troops  into 
Cheiv^s  house,  a  strong  stone  building,  which  they  de- 
fended with  so  much  obstinacy  as  to  retard  for  some  time 
the  advance  of  the  second  line  of  the  Americans  in- 
tended to  support  the  centre  ;f  and  during  this  delay, 
Sullivan's  division,  which  had  been  closely  engaged  in 
front,  having  nearly  expended  its  ammunition,  began  to 


*  John  Armstrong,  father  of  the  more  which  contains  his  vindication — and  in 

celebrated  General  of  that  name,  who  which  he  is  not  perhaps  so  successful  in 

served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  as  an  his  own  justification,  as  in  his  recrimi- 

aid  to  General  Gates ;   and  was  after-  nations    upon    others.      This    younger 

wards  more  distinguished  as  the  author  General  Armstrong  after  the  peace   of 

of  the  famous  Newburgh  Letters ;  sub-  1783,  married  and  settled  in  the  State 

sequently  as  Senator  in  Congress  from  of  New- York,  and  died  there  some  few 

New-York,   Minister  of  the   U.  S.  to  years  since,  at  a  very  advanced  age. 
France,  a  Brigadier  General  in  the  war         t  Lord   Stirling  was  for  proceeding  ; 

of  1812,  and  Secretary  at  War  under  but  General  Knox,  who  commanded  the 

President    Madison ;    which   office    he  artillery,   protested    against   leaving  so 

resigned  upon  the  capture  of  Washing-  strong  a   fortress,  in  the    rear,  and   his 

ton  City.     It  was  doubtless  intended  to  opinion,   sanctioned    as   it  was   by  the 

make  him  the  scape-goat  on  that  occa-  military  authorities  considered  standards 

sion.      But  he    subsequently  published  at  that  day,  prevailed. 
a  "History    of  the   War  of  1812" — 


Beqinnintf  <>i  ih  Alum 


Stephen  ■ '   J i  \_ 

/  Smalhvood  fSP 


<Ju£fMJr  R/nuten 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  177 

retreat,  and  falling  back  on  the  second  line,  threw  it 
into  disorder. 

The  firing  at  Chew's  house  brought  back  General 
Wayne's  division,  which  had  advanced  far  beyond  that 
point ;  and  now  retraced  their  steps  from  apprehension 
that  Sullivan  had  been  defeated.  This  movement  to- 
tally uncovered  Sullivan's  division,  which  was  then  ad- 
vancing against  the  enemy's  left.  The  loss  of  the 
American  army  on  this  occasion  amounted,  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  to  about  one  thousand  men  ; 
many  of  the  latter,  however,  were  supposed  to  have  de- 
serted. Brigadier  General  Nash,  of  North  Carolina, 
was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  within  a  few  days  after 
the  battle  ;  and  Major  General  Stephen,  who  com- 
manded on  the  right  wing,  was  cashiered  for  misconduct 
on  the  retreat. 

After  the  battle  of  Germantown,  General  Washing- 
ton returned  to  his  former  station  ;  and,  in  a  few  days, 
encamped  in  a  strong  position  at  Whitemarsh,  fourteen 
miles  from  Philadelphia.  On  the  24th  of  November  he 
called  a  council  of  war,  to  whom  he  submitted  the  ques- 
tion of  an  immediate  attack  upon  -that  city.  As  Lord 
Cornwallis  was  absent  with  a  large  body  of  troops  in 
New  Jersey,  it  was  supposed  by  some  of  the  General 
officers,  that  a  fit  opportunity  was  presented  for  making 
an  attack  on  that  place.  The  subject  was  debated  with 
some  warmth,  and,  as  there  was  much  difference  of  opin- 
ion, they  separated  without  coming  to  a  decision.  At 
the  request  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  each  member 
of  the  council  sent  in  his  written  opinion  the  next  morn- 
ing ;  and  during  the  night  a  messenger  was  despatched 
to  General  Greene,  who  was  watching  the  motions  of 
Cornwallis  in  New  Jersey,  with  directions  to  him  to  com- 

12 


178  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

municate  bis  views  on  the  subject  in  writing.  The  re- 
sult was,  that  eleven  of  the  officers  were  opposed  to  the 
attack,  and  but  four  in  favour  of  it.*  The  plan  submit- 
ted by  the  minority  for  the  attack,  was  drawn  up  by  Lord 
Stirling,  as  follows  : — 

1 .  "  That  the  enemy's  lines  on  the  north  side  of  Phila- 
delphia should  be  attacked  at  daylight  by  three  columns, 
properly  flanked  and  supported. 

2.  "  That  two  thousand  men  should  be  drawn  from 
General  Greene,  and  embarked  in  boats  at  Dunk's  ferry, 
proceed  to  Philadelphia,  land  at  or  near  Spruce-street, 
pass  through  the  common,  and  endeavour,  with  a  part, 
to  secure  the  bridge  over  the  Schuylkill,  and  with  the  re- 
mainder attack  the  enemy  in  the  rear  of  their  lines. 

3.  "  That  five  hundred  continental  troops,  with  the 
militia  under  General  Potter,  should  possess  such  of  the 
hills  on  the  other  side  of  the  Schuylkill,  as  command  and 
enfilade  the  enemy's  lines  ;  and  while  part  of  them  carry 
on  a  brisk  cannonade  at  that  place,  the  rest  should  pro- 
ceed to  the  bridge,  and  await  an  opportunity  of  attack- 
ing the  works  there  in  front,  when  the  party  from  Spruce- 
street  attack  in  the  rear." 

This  plan,  however,  was  not  approved  by  the  ma- 
jority, as  the  enemy's  lines  on  the  north  side  of  the  city 
extended  from  river  to  river,  and  were  sustained  by  a 
chain  of  redoubts  and  other  fortifications.  Each  of  his 
flanks,  moreover,  was  protected  by  a  river,  and  his  rear, 
by  the  junction  of  the  two  rivers.  To  attack  the  enemy 
under  such  circumstances  was  thought  to  require  a  great 
superiority  of  force.     These  considerations,  and  others  of 

*  Those  against  it  were  Greene,  Sul-  Portrail,  and  Armstrong  ;  those  in  fa- 
livan,  Knox,  De  Kalb,  Smallwood,  vour  of  it,  Stirling,  Wayne,  Scott,  and 
Maxwell,  Poor,  Patterson,   Irvine,  Du     Woodford. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  I79 

a  similar  tendency,  induced  General  Washington  to 
decide  against  the  attack,  though  he  had,  in  person, 
reconnoitred  the  enemy's  position  with  the  view  of 
making  it. 

The  General  officers  differed  widely  also  in  regard 
to  disposing  of  the  army  for  the  approaching  winter  ; 
and  after  a  fruitless  discussion  in  a  council  of  war,  the 
Commander-in-Chief  decided,  on  his  own  judgment  and 
responsibility,  to  establish  a  fortified  camp  at  the  Valley- 
Forge,  upon  the  Schuylkill,  about  twenty  miles  from 
Philadelphia.  After  making  the  necessary  preparations 
for  a  cantonment,  surrounding  it  on  the  land  side  with 
entrenchments,  and  throwing  a  bridge  across  the  river, 
the  army  took  possession  of  its  winter  quarters,  and  re- 
mained in  them  until  the  following  June. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

1777-1778. 

It  was  daring  this  winter  that  the  intrigue,  known, 
from  its  principal  contriver,  as  the  Conway  Cabal,  was 
brought  to  light,  principally  through  the  instrumentality 
of  Lord  Stirling.  }  Conway  was  an  Irishman  by  birth,  a 
Frenchman  by  education.  He  had  served  in  the  French 
army,  and  came  to  America,  like  many  other  foreign 
adventurers,  to  seek  service  in  the  Revolutionary  army ; 
and  if  his  claims  were  not  supported  by  as  strong  recom- 
mendations as  those  of  several  others,  his  pretensions 
were  as  high  as  those  of  the  most  extravagant  among 
them.  By  the  combined  force  of  his  certificates  and 
his  effrontery,  he  obtained  from  Congress  the  commis- 
sions, first,  of  a  Brigadier,  and  afterwards  of  a  Major 
General.  Not  being  so  fortunate  as  to  distinguish  him- 
self by  his  military  services  or  talents,  he  endeavoured 
to  ingratiate  himself  with  the  Commander-in-Chief,  by 
those  arts  of  conciliation  and  flattery  in  which  he  was  a 
greater  adept,  but  which  were  not  such  sure  passports  to 
the  favour  of  Washington.  The  disappointments  he 
suffered,  he  dignified  with  the  name  of  disgust ;  and  at- 
tached himself  to  those  whose  position  or  character  as- 
sured him  of  sympathy,  perhaps  of  revenge.     . 


THE  TJFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  \Q\ 

After    some   fruitless    experiments   upon  others,  he 
found  congenial  spirits  in   Generals   Gates  and  Mifflin  ; 
both  of  whom  had  manifested  symptoms  of  dissatisfac- 
tion as    early  as    when    the    army  lay  at   Cambridge. 
The  former  was  at  that  time  Adjutant  General  to  the 
combined  Provincial  forces,  with  the  rank  of  Brigadier  ; 
the  latter,  who  went  there  as  an  aid  to  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  was  subsequently  appointed  Quarter-Master- 
General  with  the  rank  of  Colonel.     Upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Continental  army,  Gates  applied  to  General 
Washington  for  the  command  of  a  brigade,  and  Mifflin 
for  a  regiment,  in  addition  to  their  former  appointments. 
Both  were  refused  ;  on   the  ground,  in   the  first  place, 
that  the  duties  of  their  staff  appointments  required  the 
whole  of  their  attention  ;  and  in   the   second,  that  such 
an  indulgence  would  be  invidious,  and  interfere  with  the 
just  claims  of  other  officers.     The  refusal,  in  both   in- 
stances, evidently  gave  offence,  and  was  never  forgiven 
by  either  of  the  malcontents.  . 

The  subsequent  success  of  General  Gates  against 
Burgoyne— which  he  owed  more  to  the  preparatory  ar- 
rangements and  dispositions  of  General  Schuyler,  than 
to  any  merit  of  his  own- — was  the  signal  for  the  conspir- 
ators to  assume  a  bolder  attitude  in  the  prosecution  of 
their  plot ;  to  which,  in  the  mean  time,  they  had  secur- 
ed the  adhesion  of  some  parties  of  inferior  note.  Among 
these  was  Colonel  James  Wilkinson,  an  aid-de-camp  of 
General  Gates,  through  whose  convivial  indiscretion  the 
affair  was  brought  to  light.  Wilkinson  had  been  sent 
to  Congress  with  despatches  from  General  Gates,  an- 
nouncing the  success  at  Saratoga.  On  his  way  he  stop- 
ped at  Lord  Stirling's  head  quarters  at  Reading  in  Penn- 


\ 


132  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

sylvania,*  and  at  table  after  dinner,  voluntarily  and 
openly  repeated  verbally  to  Major  McWilliams,  an  aid 
of  Lord  Stirling's,  a  passage  from  a  letter  which  Gates 
had  received  from  his  friend  Conway,  containing  severe 
strictures  on  General  Washington's  conduct  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  war,  with  reflections  disparaging  to  his 
military  character  and  talents.  Major  McWilliams  con- 
sidered it  his  duty  to  disclose  the  matter  to  Lord  Stir- 
ling, who,  in  his  turn,  felt  bound,  in  regard  to  the  pub- 
lic interest  as  well  as  impelled  by  private  friendship,  to 
communicate  it  to  General  Washington.  This  he  ac- 
cordingly did,  in  a  note  containing  a  memorandum  of  the 
words  from  Conway's  letter,  as  repeated  to  McWilliams 
by  Wilkinson,  as  follows  :  "  The  enclosed  was  commu- 
nicated by  Colonel  Wilkinson  to  Major  McWilliams  ; 
such  wicked  duplicity  I  shall  always  consider  it  my  duty 
to  detect."  In  consequence  of  this  disclosure,  and  with 
no  other  view  than  to  show  Conway  that  he  was  ap- 
prised of  his  intrigues,  General  Washington  wrote  to 
him,  as  follows : 

"  Sir, — A  letter  which  I  received  last  night,  contains 
the  following  paragraph  :  '  Heaven  has  determined  to 
save  your  country,  or  a  weak  General  and  bad  council- 
lors would  have  ruined  it.'  " 

A  correspondence  now  ensued  between  Generals 
Washington,  Gates  and  Conway.f  The  genuineness  of 
the  letter  was  denied  by  Conway;  but  the  letter  itself 
was  not,  at  that  time,  produced.  It  was  afterwards 
shown  by  General   Gates,  in  confidence,  to  Mr.  Henry 

*  Wilkinson  loitered  so  long  on   the  Scotch,  "  I  think    ye'll  better    gie   the 

road,  that  when  it  was  proposed  in  Con-  lad  a  pair  of  spurs." 
gress  to  vote  him  a  sword  as  the  bearer         t  See  the  correspondence  in  Sparks' 

of    such    auspicious    intelligence,     Dr.  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.    V.  Ap- 

Witherspoon    exclaimed,   in   his   broad  pendix   VI. 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  J  83 

Laurens,  the  President  of  Congress,  and  some  others ; 
and  although  it  appeared  not  to  have  been  exactly  quoted 
by  Major  Mc Williams,  yet,  in  substance,  it  proved  the 
same.  General  Washington  never  communicated  the 
letter  of  Lord  Stirling,  or  the  information  it  contained,  to 
any  officer  of  the  army  out  of  his  own  family,  except  the 
Marquis  de  La  Fayette,  and  to  him  it  was  shown  under 
an  injunction  of  secrecy ;  but  from  the  circumstances 
attending  the  affair,  it  could  not  long  be  concealed.* 
Rumours  respecting  it  got  abroad,  and  the  public  senti- 
ment was  expressed  in  a  tone  so  indignant  as  to  compel 
.the  conspirators  to  abandon  their  mischievous  and  ambi- 
tious projects.! 

Although  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  any  other 
officers  of  the  army  were  directly  engaged  in  this  con- 
spiracy, yet  it  is  evident,  from  the  proceedings  of  Con- 
gress, that  it  was  favoured  by  a  considerable  party  in  that 
body.J     A  new  Board  of  War  with  larger  powers  was 

*  Anonymous  letters  were  about  the  they  not  unexpectedly  lost  the   majority 

same  time  addressed  to  the  President  of  which  they  possessed  when  the  measure 

Congress,  and   to  Patrick  Henry,  then  was  determined  on.     At  that  time,  there 

Governor  of  Virginia,  ascribing  the  mis-  were  but  two  delegates   in  attendance 

fortunes  of  the  campaign  to  the  incapa-  from    New-York  ;   Francis    Lewis,  the 

city,  or  ill-timed  Fabian  policy  of  the  father  of  the  late  General  Morgan  Lewis, 

Commander-in-Chief.  and    William    Duer,  the   son-in-law    of 

t  From  the  anxiety  of  each  of  the  con-  Lord  Stirling — barely  sufficient   to  enti- 

spirators  to  exonerate  himself  at  the  ex-  tie    the   State    to   a  vote,  if  both    were 

pense  of  the  others,  they  fell  out  among  present.     But  Mr.  Duer  was  confined  to 

themselves.  his  bed  by  a  severe  and  dangerous  ill— 

t  It  is  related   by  Mr.  Dunlap   in  his  ness.     His   colleague,  Mr.    Lewis,    had 

History  of  New- York,  upon  the  authori-  sent    an    express    for   Mr.    Gouverneur 

ty  it    is  presumed   of  the    late   General  Morris,  one  of  the  absent  members,  who 

Morgan  Lewis,  that  a  day  had  been  ap-  had  not  however  arrived  on  the  morning 

pointed    by  the  "  Cabal,"   in    Congress,  of  the  day  on  which  the   motion  was  to 

for  one  of  them  to  move  for  a  Committee  have  been  made.     Finding  this  to  be  the 

to  proceed  to  the  camp  at  Valley-Forge,  case,  Mr.    D.  inquired   of  his  physician, 

to  arrest  General  Washington  ;  and  that  Dr.  John  Jones,  whether  it  were  possible 

the  motion  would   have  succeeded  had  for  him  to  be  carried  to  the  Court-House 


184  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

soon  afterwards  instituted.  General  Gates  was  placed 
at  its  head,  with  Mifflin  as  a  coadjutor,  and  Wilkinson, 
who  had  been  brevetted  a  Brigadier,  as  Secretary. 
One  of  their  first  acts  was  to  propose  to  Congress  a  new 
expedition  to  Canada,  the  plan  of  which  was  devised  by 
Gates,  and  approved  by  Congress,  without  consulting 
the  Commander-in-Chief.  The  office  of  Inspector  Gen- 
eral, with  the  rank  of  Major  General,  had  been  previ- 
ously bestowed  on  Conway ;  but  he  had  never  entered 
upon  its  duties,  and  his  promotion  had  given  so  much 
umbrage  to  the  Brigadiers  who  were  his  seniors,  that,  in 
addition  to  the  disgust  excited  by  their  knowledge  of  his 
machinations  against  General  Washington,  his  situation 
was  rendered  so  uncomfortable,  that  he  withdrew  from 
the  army  ;  and,  after  the  abandonment  of  the  proposed 
expedition  to  Canada,  in  which  he  was  to  have  been  em- 
ployed, he  resigned  his  commission  as  Inspector  General 
from  a  conviction  that  the  Commander-in-Chief  would 
never  call  upon  him  to  exercise  its  duties.  A  soldier  of 
fortune,  he  became  the  victim  of  the  irregular  ambition 
and  propensity  to  intrigue  characteristic  of  such  adven- 
turers. Having  been  wounded  by  an  American  officer* 
in  a  duel  to  which  his  turbulence  gave  rise,  and  appre- 
hending the  near  approach  of  death,  he  wrote  to  Gene- 
ral Washington  expressing  sorrow  for  his  conduct ;  but 

where  Congress  sat.     The   Doctor  told  else  will — but  I  prefer  your   aid."     The 

him  it   was  possible,  but   it  would  be  at  litter  was  prepared,  and   the  sick  man 

the  risk  of  his  life.     "  Do  you   mean,"  placed  on  it,  when   the  arrival  of  Mr. 

said  Mr.  D.,"  that  I  should  expire  before  Morris  rendered   the  further   use   of  it 

reaching    the    place  V     "  No,"    replied  unnecessary,   and    baffled    the   intrigue 

the    Doctor,  "  but  I   would  not  answer  that  had  induced   its  preparation.     Sec 

for  your  leaving  it  alive."     "  Very  well,  Hist,  of  JV.    Y.  ly   Win.  Dunlap,  Vol. 

sir,"  said   Mr.  D  ,  "  you  have  done  your  II.  p.  133. 

duty,  and  I  will  do  mine.     Prepare  a  lit-  *  General     Cadwallader,    of      New 

ter  for  me  ;  if  you  will  not,  somebody  Jersey. 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  JQ5 

he  unexpectedly  recovered  and  returned  to  France, 
where  he  was  followed  by  the  report  of  his  misdeeds, 
and  sunk  into  insignificance  and  neglect.* 

The  account  given  of  the  Cabal  by  Wilkinson,  in 
his  "  Memoirs,"  is,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  most  grossly  in- 
accurate, and  so  contradictory  and  inconsistent  in  its  par- 
ticulars, as  to  refute  itself.  He  represents  his  conversa- 
tion with  Major  Mc Williams  to  have  been  held  in  the  pre- 
sence and  hearing  of  Lord  Stirling — if  not  addressed  to 
him  personally.  Lord  Stirling  having  subsequently  ascer- 
tained from  Conway  that  he  had  inquired  of  Wilkinson 
whether  he  had  seen  the  letter  addressed  by  him  to 
Gates,  and  that  Wilkinson  had  declared  that  he  had, 
and  that  it  contained  no  such  words  as  those  he  had  re- 
peated, thereupon  wrote  to  Wilkinson,  stating  the  facts 
that  Conway  had  communicated  to  him,  and  pointedly 
observed  that  he  well  knew  that  it  was  impossible  that 
Wilkinson  could  have  made  such  a  declaration,  but  that 
it  would  give  satisfaction  to  many  of  his  friends  to  know 
whether  Conway  had  made  the  inquiry ;  and  what  had 
been  his  (Wilkinson's)  answer ;  and  that  they  would  also 
be  glad  to  know,  what  were  the  words  of  the  letter,  of 
which  he  (Lord  Stirling)  "would  be  very  much  obliged 
to  him  for  a  copy." 

This  letter  Wilkinson  says  he  received  at  Albany, 
and   subjoins  a  very  impertinent  answer,  which  if  not 

*  His    friend    Wilkinson    also    gave  he  found  it   impossible  to   serve  under 

up   his   brevet   of  Brigadier,  when  ap-  him."     (See    his   Memoirs.)     He    still 

pointed  Secretary  to  the  Board  of  War,  retained  his    rank  of    Colonel    in     the 

from  a  cause  similar  to  that  which  pro-  army,    and,  in     1779,    was    appointed 

duced  Conway's  resignation,  though  he  Clothier  General.    His  subsequent  course 

says  himself,  "■from  motives  of  patriot-  corresponded  with  this  beginning.     He 

ism,"    and  because    "  after  the  acts    of  intrigued    with    Burr  as  he    did    with 

treachery  and  falsehood  in    which  he  Conway;  and   betrayed  him  as  he  did 

had  detected  the  President  of  the  Board,  Gates. 


186  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

fabricated  for  the  purposes  of  his  narrative,  it  is  very 
clear,  from  the  subsequent  correspondence,  that  if  ever 
sent  it  could  never  have  been  received  by  Lord  Stirling. 
Of  this,  indeed,  Wilkinson  admits  the  possibility  ;  and 
it  is  equally  clear,  from  what  follows,  that  he  has  sup- 
pressed a  letter  from  Lord  Stirling  to  himself.  When 
he  reached  Lancaster,  after  leaving  Reading  on  his  way 
to  York  in  Pennsylvania,  where  Congress  was  sitting, 
he  learnt,  he  says,  that  General  Gates  had  denounced 
him,  in  the  grossest  terms,  as  the  betrayer  of  Conway's 
letter  ;  and  believing  that  the  exposition  of  his  corres- 
pondence with  Lord  Stirling  would  aid  him  in  procuring 
an  explanation  from  Gates,  he  sought  one  by  letter. 
But  instead  of  obtaining  it,  he  received  an  answer  from 
his  former  friend  and  patron,  which  he  describes  as 
"  cruel  and  insulting."  In  this  answer  General  Gates 
gives  the  substance  of  a  letter  he  had  received  from 
General  Washington,  informing  him  of  Wilkinson's  dis- 
closure of  Conway's  letter,  of  its  communication  by 
Major  McWilliams  to  Lord  Stirling,  and  by  Lord  Stir- 
ling to  General  Washington  ;  which  letter  of  Gates  con- 
cluded with  the  following  paragraph :  "  After  reading 
the  whole  of  the  above  extract,  I  am  astonished — if  you 
really  gave  Major  McWilliams  such  information — how 
you  could  intimate  to  me  that  it  was  possible  Colonel 
Troup*  had  conversed  with  Colonel  Hamiltonf  on  the 
subject  of  Conway's  letter."  Upon  receiving  this  letter, 
Wilkinson  says  he  challenged  General  Gates.     If  so,  it 

*  Also  an  aid  to  General  Gates.  knew  Troup  to  be  too  much  of  a  man 

t  Then  an  aid  to  General  Washing-  of  honour  to  make  such  a  communica- 

ton.     Wilkinson's  object  in  this  insinu-  tion — and  if  he  were   not.  that  Hamil- 

ation  was,  of  course,  to  transfer  to  his  ton  was  the  last    person    to  whom    he 

colleague  the  disgrace  of  the  disclosure,  would  have  ventured  to  make  it. 
But  the  atempt  was  desperate,  as  Gates 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  JQ7 

must  have  been  because  he  could  confirm  his  veracity  in 
no  other  way.  But  the  whole  story,  as  he  relates  it,  ap- 
pears incredible  upon  its  very  face.  According  to  his 
statement,  which  partakes  more  of  the  ridiculous  than 
of  the  pathetic,  at  which  he  evidently  aimed,  Gates 
accepted  the  challenge  ;  and  when  Wilkinson  was  on 
his  way  to  the  place  of  meeting,  with  his  second,  he  was 
stopped,  he  says,  by  a  friend,  who  requested  that  he 
would  follow  him,  which  he  did,  to  a  place  where  he 
found  General  Gates  alone.  The  General  received  him 
"  with  much  tenderness,  but  manifest  embarrassment,'7 
and  requested  him  to  walk  with  him  in  a  back  street. 
After  proceeding  together  some  distance  in  silence, 
Gates  burst  into  tears,  and  asked  him,  "  how  he  could 
think  that "  he  (Gates)  "  wished  to  injure  him  ?" 
Wilkinson  says,  he  "  was  too  deeply  affected  to  speak," 
and  Gates  relieved  him  by  exclaiming,  "  I  injure  you ! 
It  is  impossible  ;  I  should  as  soon  think  of  injuring  my 
own  child."  "  This  language  not  only  disarmed  me," 
says  Wilkinson,  "  but  awakened  all  my  confidence,  and 
all  my  tenderness."  He  was,  however,  silent,  while  the 
General  added — "  besides  there  was  no  cause  for  injuring 
you,  for  Conway  acknowledged  his  letter,  and  has  since 
said  much  harsher  things  to  Washington's  face."  This 
Wilkinson  declares  was  "  satisfactory  "  to  him,  "  beyond 
expectation,"  and  a  long  and  friendly  conversation  took 
place  between  the  parties  to  the  intended  duel,  in  the 
absence,  by  the  bye,  of  their  seconds,  in  which  it  was 
"  settled  "  that  Wilkinson  "  should  attend  at  the  War 
Office,  in  his  capacity  of  Secretary,  for  a  few  days,  and 
then  have  leave  to  visit  the  camp  at  Valley-Forge,  where 
Lord  Stirling  was  quartered." 

Upon  Wilkinson's  presenting  himself  at  the  War 


188  THE  LIPE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

Office,  however,  the  "tenderness"  of  General  Gates  seems 
to  have  evaporated ;  for  the  Secretary  complains  that 
his  reception  "  by  the  President  of  the  Board  did  not 
correspond  with  his  recent  professions ;  and  that 
although  at  a  loss  to  account  for  his  coldness,"  he  "  had 
no  suspicion  of  his  sincerity."  After  remaining  a  few 
days  at  his  post  he  set  off  on  his  errand  to  Valley-Forge, 
where,  after  lingering;  a  fortnight  at  Lancaster,  under  the 
influence  of  a  passion  more  "  tender"  than  the  mutual 
affection  between  himself  and  his  General,  he  arrived  on 
the  16th  or  17th  of  February.  He  applied  to  his 
"  friend  Colonel  Moylan,"  (when,  he  does  not  say,)  to 
deliver  "a  peremptory  message"  to  Lord  Stirling,  "on 
the  ground  of  his  Lordship's  having  misrepresented  his 
conduct  to  the  prejudice  of  his  honour."  But  from  this 
he  was  dissuaded  by  his  friend,  and  consented  instead 
to  send  the  following  note  ;  dated,  it  will  be  perceived, 
a  full  month  after  his  arrival  at  camp. 

Colonel  James  Wilkinson  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Moore-hall,  March  28th,  1778. 

"  My  Lord, — The  propriety  or  impropriety  of  com- 
municating any  circumstance  that  passed  at  your  Lord- 
ship's board  at  Reading,  I  leave  to  be  determined  by 
your  own  feelings,  and  the  judgment  of  the  public  ;  but 
as  the  affair  has  eventually  induced  reflections  on  my 
integrity,  the  sacred  duty  I  owe  my  honour  obliges  me 
to  require  from  your  Lordship's  hand  that  the  conversa- 
tion you  have  published,  passed  in  private  company, 
during  a  convivial  hour.  Colonel  Moylan,  who  delivers 
this,  is  my  friend,  and  will  receive  your  reply. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  jgg 

As  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  discover  in  this 
note  any  charge  against  Lord  Stirling,  "  on  the  ground 
of  having  misrepresented  the  conduct"  of  the  author, 
his  Lordship  could  have  had  no  hesitation  in  giving  him 
the  following  answer,  which  Wilkinson  avers  to  have 
been  "  satisfactory,  and  sufficient  to  establish  his  inno- 
cence, though  not  consistent  with  the  information  given 
by  Lord  Stirling  to  General  Washington."  As  the  let- 
ter in  question  merely  communicated  the  extract  from 
that  of  Conway  to  Gates,  as  repeated  by  Wilkinson 
to  McWilliams,  with  no  other  information  from  Lord 
Stirling  than  his  having  received  it  from  McWilliams, 
it  is  not  so  easy  to  discover  upon  what  ground  Wilkin- 
son rests  his  charge  of  inconsistency  against  the  person 
selected  for  his  adversary,  as  to  detect  it  in  himself. 
He  made  the  disclosure,  not  to  Lord  Stirling,  but  to 
Major  McWilliams,  who  communicated  it  to  Lord  Stir- 
ling. If,  therefore,  there  were  any  breach  of  confidence 
in  the  case,  he  should  have  called  upon  McWilliams,  and 
not  upon  Lord  Stirling,  for  redress.  He  felt,  however, 
no  great  resentment  against  either  of  them  ;  but  rather 
suffered  himself  to  be  used  by  Gates  as  an  instrument 
of  revenge  against  Lord  Stirling,  for  the  exposure  of  his 
"  wicked  duplicity  "  to  General  Washington.  Wilkin- 
son, indeed,  seems  to  have  considered  the  gravamen  of 
Lord  Stirling's  offence  as  consisting  not  so  much  in  any 
"  misrepresentation  of  his  conduct,"  in  regard  to  the 
disclosure  itself,  as  in  communicating  what  had  trans- 
pired "  in  a  convivial  hour."  He  evidently  sought  to 
avail  himself  of  the  excess  of  his  conviviality,  as  an  ex- 
cuse for  the  treachery  charged  against  him  by  Gates. 
But  to  enable  the  reader  to  form  his  own  judgment  upon 


190  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

the  point,  the  answer  to  Wilkinson's  note  is  subjoined, 
from  his  own  version.* 


M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  "James  Wilkinson,  Esq." 

"March  18th,  1778. 

"  Sir, — As  to  the  propriety  of  my  communicating  to 
General  Washington  a  circumstance  that  transpired  in 
conversation  at  Reading,  I  have  not  the  least  doubt ;  nor 
can  I  conceive  that  jour  having  mentioned  that  extraor- 
dinary paragraph  will  ever  injure  your  honour. 

"  However  that  may  be,  I  shall  ever  be  ready  to  aver 
the  truth,  and  equally  ready  to  give  you  the  satisfaction 
of  having  it  under  my  hand  that  the  words  that  I  did 
communicate  to  his  Excellency,  "  passed  in  a  private 
conversation  in  a  convivial  hour  ;"  but  under  no  injunc- 
tion of  secrecy.  As  to  my  having  published  it,  1  do  not 
know  that  I  have  ever  mentioned  it  since,  until  lately, 
when  a  certain  gentleman  asserted  in  company,  that  you 
had  denied  that  you  had  ever  had  any  such  conversation. 
This  put  me  under  the  necessity  of  asserting  the  con- 
trary ;  and  of  this  1  immediately  wrote  you,  being  sure 
you  would  never  deny  it.  By  your  silence  on  that  head, 
I  must  conclude  you  never  received  my  letter. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


*  The    correspondence    between   the  ed  his  word  it  is  a  wicked  and  mali- 

parties  is,  from    necessity,  taken  from  cious  forgery,  I  will  stake  my   reputa- 

Wilkinson's  Memoirs,  as  no  trace  of  it  tion,  if  the  genuine  letter   is  produced, 

appears  among  Lord   Stirling's  papers,  that  words  to   the  same  effect  will  ap- 

A   letter    of  Wilkinson's   addressed    to  pear ;  else  how  could  Conway  acknow- 

General  Washington,  under  date  of  28th  ledge  to  Colonel  Stewart,  that  he  had 

March,  1778,  referring   to  this  passage  written  such  a   letter;    or    how   could 

of    Conway's,  concludes  as   follows  ; —  Dr.  Hutchinson  have  heard  this  identi- 

"  However,  I  so  well  remember  its  tenor  cal   passage  mentioned  in  Philadelphia, 

that,  although  General  Gates  has  pledg-  before  he  left  that  city  V* 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  191 

After  giving  this  letter,  Wilkinson  quotes  the  follow- 
ing extract  of  one  from  General  Washington  to  Lord 
Stirling,  as  "  manifesting  the  interest  taken  by  the  for- 
mer  in  his  (Wilkinson's)  behalf" 

General  Washington  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"Valley-Forge,  March  21st,  1778. 

"My  Lord, — In  answer  to  your  favour  of  this  date, 
give  me  leave  to  say  that  I  am  well  pleased  with  the 
termination  of  your  correspondence  with  Colonel  Wil- 
kinson. I  sent  for  that  gentleman  after  the  conversation 
1  had  with  your  Lordship,  and  showed  him  the  letters 
Mr.  Harrison*  furnished  you  with  a  sight  of.     He  seemed 

a  good  deal  surprised  at  G 's  letters,  and  not  at  all 

sparing  of  abuse  of  him  and  Con  way.  "f 

Such  is  the  representation  of  the  affair  by  Wilkin- 
son himself,  and  these  are  the  documents  he  adduces  to 
support  it.  How  far  the  one  is  sustained  by  the  others, 
the  reader  will  determine.  How  far  the  correspondence 
may  be  relied  on  as  genuine,  is  not  so  easy  to  decide, 
especially  as  it  appears  probable,  from  some  observations 
of  Lord  Stirling's,  that  parts  if  not  whole  letters  have 
been  suppressed,  and  several  passages  in  those  given 
altered.  The  former  supposition  derives  some  confir- 
mation from  the  time  that  elapsed  between  Wilkinson's 
arrival  at  the  camp,  and  the  date  of  his  first  letter.  Ad- 
mitting, however,  the  whole  correspondence  to  be  fairly 
and  correctly  given,  it  not  only  fails  to  sustain  the  re- 
proach sought  to  be  cast  upon  Lord  Stirling,  but  leaves 
it  doubtful  whether  Gates,  Conway,  or  Wilkinson  him- 

*  The  private    Secretary  of  General         t  See    Wilkinson's  Memoirs,  Vol.  T. 
Washington.  pp.  382-393. 


]  92  THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING. 

self  deserves  the  greater  condemnation.  The  latter 
struggles  to  exculpate  himself  at  the  expense  both  of 
his  accomplice  and  of  his  benefactor ;  failing  in  this,  he 
turns  upon  the  person  through  whom  his  treachery  was 
exposed,  and  is  met  by  a  rebuff,  of  which  the  effect  is 
manifest  from  his  impotent  efforts  to  repress  the  con- 
sciousness of  the  despicable  figure  he  had  exhibited. 
The  following  extract  of  a  letter  from  a  delegate  in 
Congress  from  New  Jersey,  relates  to  the  transaction 
in  which  Wilkinson  bore  so  conspicuous  a  part,  and 
refers  to  the  disgust  created  by  both  his  and  Conway's 
promotion. 


Abraham  Clark  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Yorktown,  January  loth,  1778. 

"  My  Lord, —  *  *  *  *  Your  Lordship  mentions 
the  want  of  military  merit  in  a  gentleman  lately  pro- 
moted. I  had  always  before  heard  him  mentioned  as 
having  great  military  abilities  ;  and  this  is  all  I  had  ever 
heard  concerning  him.     The  kind  of  correspondence  he 

carried  on  with  General  G ,  was  not  however  known 

at  the  time  of  his  promotion.  Had  his  letter  to  General 
Washington  been  before  them,  Congress  would  have 
probably  acted  otherwise.  Dissensions  among  the  offi- 
cers of  the  army  must  be  very  injurious  to  the  public 
interest.  I  cannot  say  what  Congress  will  do.  By  the 
letters  sent  to  them,  an  appeal  seems  to  be  made,  which, 
I  trust,  will  be  carefully  attended  to.  The  authority  and 
credit  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  must  be  supported. 

"  Upon  such  a  disagreeable  subject  as  is  contained 
in  General  Gates's  letter  to  General  Washington,  I  re- 
ceived some  consolation  in  finding  the  offence  so  highly 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 


193 


complained  of  fall  somewhere, — upon  a  person  for  whom 
General  Gates's  unbounded  friendship  and  earnest  solici- 
tations had  procured  a  promotion  very  injurious  and  dis- 
gustful to  the  army.  I  was  not  in  Congress  at  that  time, 
but  I  think  the  measure  injudicious.  To  remedy  this 
hasty  step,  Congress  lately  took  Mr.  W.  from  the  mili- 
tary line,  by  appointing  him  Secretary  to  the  Board  of 
War,  of  which  Mr.  Gates  is  President.  What  will  be 
done  with  him  next,  I  cannot  say.  If  he  betrayed  the 
confidence  of  his  patron,  he  may  do  the  same  by  his 
country ;  and  from  the  opinion  Mr.  Gates  seems  to  have 
of  such  a  character,  I  think  he  will  not  hereafter  choose 
to  have  him  near  his  person." 

The  subsequent  part  of  this  letter  relates  to  another 
important  subject  which  then  engaged  the  attention  of 
Congress,  and  is  characteristic  both  of  the  writer  and 
times. 

"  As  the  reduction  of  the  battalions  is  become  neces- 
sary, a  Committee  of  Congress  and  three  of  the  Board 
of  War  are  going  to  the  army  for  that  purpose.  It  is 
said  many  good  officers  are  weary  of  the  service,  and 
wish  to  resign,  unless  they  are  put  on  a  permanent  es- 
tablishment. That  they  are  weary  and  wish  for  ease, 
I  do  not  wonder ;  but  who  that  are  either  in  the  civil  or 
military  department  are  not  weary,  and  do  not  wish  for 
retirement  ?  The  service  in  every  part  is  severe.  Con- 
gress sit  night  and  day,  taking  little  rest.  Must  we  all 
therefore  resign  ?  This  is  no  time  to  talk  of  ease  and 
retirement ;  let  us  first  establish  our  liberties — our  de- 
sires of  ease  will  then  be  obtained.  I  do  not  mention 
this  as  applicable  to  your  Lordship.     I  never  heard  of 

13 


]94  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

your  desire  to  turn  your  back  upon  a  service  the  most 
noble  and  glorious.  Some,  however,  do  it.  We  all  en- 
gaged, I  hope,  on  patriotic  principles  ;  may  the  same, 
separate  from  every  lucrative  and  ambitious  viewy.carry  us 
through  this  contest ! 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  number  of  troops  agreed  on  by  the  Committees 
of  Congress  and  of  the  Board  of  War,  upon  their  visit 
to  the  Valley-Forge,  was  forty  thousand,  besides  artillery 
and  horse ;  but  when,  on  the  8th  of  May,  a  Council  of 
War  was  called  to  determine  upon  future  operations,  it 
was  found  that  the  army,  including  the  detachments  on 
the  North  River  and  elsewhere,  did  not  exceed  fifteen 
thousand  ;  nor  was  it  believed  that  it  could  be  raised 
higher  than  twenty  thousand  ;  while  the  British  force 
in  New-York  and  Philadelphia  amounted  to  near  thirty 
thousand,  besides  a  detachment  of  three  thousand  four 
hundred  at  Rhode  Island.  These  numbers  were  much 
larger  than  was  supposed  by  the  Council  of  War,  when 
considering  the  question  submitted  to  them  by  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,— whether  it  was  expedient  to  take  the 
field,  and  act  on  the  defensive,  or  wait  until  the  plans  of 
the  enemy  were  more  fully  developed,  and  then  be 
guided  by  circumstances.  On  that  occasion  the  ene- 
my's force  at  Philadelphia  was  estimated  at  ten  thousand, 
in  New- York  at  four  thousand,  and  at  Rhode  Island  at 
two  thousand  :  upon  this  basis  the  question  was  dis- 
cussed ;  and  upon  that  estimate,  it  was  decided,  with 
great  unanimity,  against  any  scheme  of  offensive  opera- 
tions. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  affairs  assumed  a 
new,  and  more  favourable  aspect.     Sir  William  Howe, 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  ]  95 

was  recalled  in  accordance  with  his  own  request,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  The  treaty  of  alli- 
ance between  France  and  the  United  States  raised  the 
hopes  of  America,  and,  being  regarded  by  Great  Britain 
as  a  declaration  of  war  against  her  on  the  part  of  France, 
produced  a  change  in  the  plans  of  the  English  Ministers 
for  carrying  on  hostilities.  A  sudden  descent  on  the 
French  possessions  in  the  West  Indies  was  resolved  on ; 
and  to  aid  in  its  execution,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  or- 
dered to  detach  five  thousand  men  from  his  army, — to 
send  three  thousand  more  to  Florida,  and  to  withdraw 
with  the  remainder  to  New-York.* 

Having  shipped  his  cavalry,  and  some  other  troops, 
with  his  provision  train  and  heavy  baggage,  he  prepared 
to  march  through  New  Jersey,  with  the  main  body  of  his 
forces.  As  soon  as  his  evacuation  of  Philadelphia,  which 
took  place  on  the  18th  of  June,  was  known  at  the  Valley- 
Forge,  Generals  Leef  and  Wayne,  each  at  the  head  of  a 
division,  were  ordered  to  pass  the  Delaware  at  Coryell's 
ferry,  and  to  halt  on  the  first  strong  ground  on  the  Jer- 
sey side.  General  Washington  himself  soon  followed, 
and  within  six  days  the  whole  army  had  crossed  the 
river,  and  arrived  at  Hopewell  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Princeton.  The  British  General,  after  crossing  at  Glou- 
cester point,  had  moved  slowly  on  through  Haddonfield 
and  Mount  Holly,  until  he  reached  Crosswicks  and  Allen- 
town  ;  and  it  was  not  until  after  he  had  actually  arrived 
at  the  latter  place  that  he  determined   upon   the  direc- 

*  This  last  movement  probably  arose  ridge,  to  which  he  had  repaired  for  the 

from    the    supposition    that    a    French  night  in  advance  of  the  army  on  its  former 

fleet    would  soon  appear  in   the  Dela-  march  through  Jersey.     It  was  spoken 

ware.  of  by  Lord   Stirling  as  "  one  of  Lee's 

t  He  had  lately  been  exchanged,  eccentric  movements,  and  only  remark- 
having  been  made  prisoner  at  Basken-  able  from  its  direction." 


]96  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

tion  he  should  take  when  he  left  it.  It  was  at  first  his 
intention  to  proceed  to  the  Raritan,  and  embark  his 
troops  at  New  Brunswick,  or  South  Amboy  ;  but  rinding 
General  Washington,  who,  in  the  mean  time  had  ad- 
vanced to  Kingston,  almost  in  his  front,  he  turned  to  his 
right,  and  took  the  road  leading  to  Sandy  Hook. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  he  was  encamped  in  a 
strong  position  near  Monmouth  Court-House,  and  Gen- 
eral Washington  was  approaching  him.  When  the  latter 
had  advanced  to  within  six  or  seven  miles  of  the  British 
encampment,  he  was  informed  that  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
had  abandoned  it  and  was  then  on  his  march  to  the 
ocean.  The  American  army  was  instantly  put  in  motion, 
and  General  Lee,  who  commanded  the  advanced  detach- 
ments, amounting  to  five  thousand  men,  was  ordered  to 
commence  the  attack,  "  unless  there  should  be  very 
powerful  reasons  to  the  contrary  ;"  and  he  was  at  the 
same  time  informed  by  General  Washington  that  he 
would  come  up  as  soon  as  possible  to  his  support. 

After  he  had  marched  about  five  miles,  Washington 
learnt,  to  his  surprise  and  mortification,  that  Lee  was 
retreating  without  having  made  any  opposition  to  the 
enemy,  except  one  fire  from  a  party  which  had  been 
charged  by  the  British  cavalry.  This  movement  was 
the  more  alarming,  as  General  Lee,  without  giving  any 
notice  of  his  retreat,  was  marching  his  troops  directly 
upon  the  rear  division,  to  the  imminent  hazard  of  throw- 
ing the  whole  army  into  confusion,  at  the  very  moment 
too  when  the  enemy  was  pressing  upon  it  with  unim- 
peded force.  General  Washington  rode  immediately  to 
the  rear  of  the  retreating  division,  where  he  found  Gen- 
eral Lee,  whom  he  accosted  with  a  warmth  of  language 
which  he  rarelv  used,  and  in  a  manner  indicative  of  the 


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THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  ]97 

highest  displeasure.  He  ordered  the  division  to  be 
re-formed  and  brought  immediately  into  action.  Lee 
promptly  obeyed  ;  but  it  was  not  without  difficulty  that 
the  order  of  battle  could  be  restored  in  time  to  check 
the  advance  of  the  enemy.  A  new  disposition  of  the 
left  wing  and  second  line  of  the  army  was  then  made, 
on  an  eminence,  partly  in  a  wood,  and  covered  by  a 
morass  in  front. 

The  rear  division,  which  formed  the  left  wing  of  the 
army,  was  commanded  by  Lord  Stirling,  who  placed  his 
batteries  so  as  to  play  upon  the  enemy  with  great  effect, 
and  with  the  aid  of  his  infantry  to  put  a  stop  to  their 
advance.  General  Greene,  who  commanded  the  right 
wing,  on  hearing  of  Lee's  retreat  marched  up,  and  took 
an  advantageous  position  on  the  right;  upon  which  the 
enemy  attempted  to  turn  Lord  Stirling's  left  flank,  but 
were  repulsed  and  driven  back.  A  similar  attempt 
on  the  right  wing  was  as  bravely  met  by  Greene,  and  was 
equally  successful.  While  this  was  going  on,  General 
Wayne  advanced  with  a  body  of  infantry,  and  kept  up 
so  hot  and  well  directed  a  fire  upon  the  enemy's  front, 
that  they  retired  behind  a  marshy  ravine,  to  the  ground 
they  had  occupied  at  the  commencement  of  the  engage- 
ment. 

It  was  night  before  the  dispositions  for  attacking 
them  in  that  position  could  be  made  ;  and,  with  the 
view  of  renewing  the  contest  the  next  morning,  the 
American  troops  were  directed  to  lie  upon  their  arms 
on  the  field.  When  the  morning  dawned  no  enemy  was 
to  be  seen.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  silently  retired  in 
the  night  towards  Middletown,  and  before  he  could  again 
be  attacked^  had  reached  Sandy  Hook,  where  he  em- 
barked his  troops  on  board  the  fleet  which  lay  there  in 


198  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

readiness  to  receive  them,  and  thus  were  they  conveyed 
again  to  New-York.  The  American  army  was  then 
marched  round  to  the  Hudson,  which  it  crossed  at  King's 
ferry,  whence  it  marched  on,  and  encamped  at  the 
White  Plains. 

Stung  by  the  language  Washington  had  used  to  him 
on  the  field  of  battle,  General  Lee,  after  a  disrespect- 
ful and  offensive  correspondence  with  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  demanded  a  Court  Martial.  He  was  ac- 
cordingly placed  under  arrest,  and  a  Court  Martial  was 
summoned,  of  which  Lord  Stirling  was  President.  It 
sat.  for  three  weeks  while  the  army  was  on  its  march  to 
the  Hudson,  and  finally  declared  General  Lee  guilty  on 
all  the  charges  preferred  against  him,  which  were,  1st, 
Disobedience  of  orders,  in  not  attacking  the  enemy  ac- 
cording to  repeated  instruction  ;  2d,  Misbehaviour  before 
the  enemy,  in  making  an  unnecessary  and  disorderly 
retreat ;  and  3d,  Disrespect  towards  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  in  two  letters  written  after  the  action.  The 
sentence  of  the  Court,  suspending  him  from  his  com- 
mand for  a  twelvemonth,  was  approved  by  Congress ; 
and  General  Lee  left  the  army  for  Philadelphia,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death,  four  years  afterwards,  without 
having  been  again  called  into  service. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

1778-1781. 

Before  the  army  crossed  the  Hudson,  General 
Washington  had  heard  of  the  arrival  of  the  French  fleet 
under  the  Count  D'Estaing.  No  time  was  lost  in  offering 
his  congratulations  to  the  admiral,  and  proposing  to  him  to 
co-operate  against  the  common  enemy.  An  attack  upon 
New-York  was  first  contemplated,  but  the  pilots  refus- 
ed to  take  the  responsibility  of  conducting  the  heavy 
ships  of  the  French  over  the  bar  at  Sandy  Hook.  The 
fleet  then  proceeded  to  Newport,  and  upon  the  failure  of 
the  land  expedition  against  that  place,  in  consequence 
of  the  dissensions  between  the  American  and  French 
officers,  the  French  Admiral  proceeded  to  Boston,  to  re- 
pair the  damages  his  ships  had  sustained  from  a  tremen- 
dous storm,  and  a  partial  engagement  with  the  enemy, 
upon  his  outward  passage. 

While  in  camp  at  White  Plains,  Lord  Stirling  ob- 
tained permission  for  his  lady  to  visit  her  eldest  daugh- 
ter, whose  husband,  Mr.  Robert  Watts,  had  taken  no 
active  part  on  either  side  in  the  Revolution,  and  remained 
quietly  in  the  city  of  New- York.  The  letters  of  Lady 
Stirling  and  her  youngest  daughter,  wrho  accompanied 
her,  describing  this  visit,  may  not  be  devoid  of  general 
interest,  as  they  exhibit  the  situation  and  temper  of  those 


2Q0  THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING. 

Americans  who  had  continued  in  the  city  during  its  oc- 
cupation by  the  enemy. 

The  Countess  of  Stirling  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Elizabethtown,  August  24th,  1778. 

"  My  Dear  Lord, — I  returned  last  night  from  New- 
York.  We  were  received  with  great  politeness  by  Gen- 
eral Maxwell  and  Mr.  Caldwell  at  the  point,  and  con- 
ducted to  Mr.  Smith,  who  received  us  very  politely. 
The  Governor  [Livingston,  her  brother]  has  promised 
to  provide  us  a  carriage  to  get  home  in  to-day.  We  left 
Mr.  Watts,  Mary,  and  her  little  girl,  very  well.  She 
longs  to  see  you,  and  wishes  to  be  with  me,  but  duty  to 
her  husband  must  keep  her  where  she  is. 

"  The  commanding  officer  at  Staten  Island  sent  a 
sergeant  over  with  us  to  New- York,  with  orders  that  we 
should  go  to  G.  Jones  to  ask  his  permission  to  go  to 
Mr.  Watts.  I  desired  Mr.  Rutherfurd*  to  go  for  us,  and 
we  were  permitted.  The  next  day  Mr.  W.  carried  your 
letter  to  head-quarters,  and  about  ten  days  afterwards 
General  Clinton  sent  a  card  to  Mr.  Watts,  desiring  him 
to  let  him  know  when  we  arrived  in  town,  for  he  intend- 
ed to  show  us  all  the  civility  in  his  power.  We  never 
heard  from  him  again  until  I  applied  for  a  pass  to  leave 
town ;  then  Mr.  Elliott  came  with  Sir  Henry's  compli- 
ments that  he  was  sorry  he  had  not  had  it  in  his  power 
to  call  on  us  before,  but  that  he  would  endeavour  to  do 
it  before  we  left  town,  for  old  acquaintance  sake  ; — but 
we  heard  no  more  of  him.     So  much  for  that. 

*  Walter   Rutherfurd,   a   brother-in-  teemed  and   respected  both  by   Whigs 

law  of  Lord  Stirling's.  and  Tories,  for  his  integrity  of  charac- 

+  Andrew    Elliot,   Collector    of   the  ter,  and  the  urbanity  of  his  manners, 
port  under  the   Crown,  and  highly  es- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  201 

"  Mr.  Elliot  called  on  us  the  day  after  we  got  to  town 
and  offered  me  liberty  to  take  any  thing  out  of  town  1 
pleased,  for  which  I  thanked  him,  and  told  him,  I  was 
only  come  to  see  my  daughter ;  which  I  thought  most 
prudent,  for  I  was  afraid  there  would  be  a  handle  made 
of  it,  if  I  accepted  the  offer.  All  his  family  came  to  see 
us,  and  he  sent  me  the  same  offer  by  several  people  :  the 
last  time  I  saw  him  he  told  me  I  must  take  a  box  of  tea, 
but  I  stuck  to  my  text.  Lord  Drummond,*  Chief  Jus- 
tice Smith,f  and  Mr.  N.  Bayard, t  were  our  constant 
visitors,  and  desired  to  be  remembered  to  you. 

"  I  was  happy  to  hear  from  General  M.  that  you 
was  well  last  week.  I  sent  my  love  to  you  by  Colonel 
Bunner.  I  am  obliged  to  conclude,  as  it  is  time  to  set 
off.  Write  to  me  as  soon  as  possible.  Kate  joins  in 
love  to  you.     She  will  write  to  you  when  we  get  home. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Lady  Catharine  Alexander^  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stir- 
ling. 

"  Parsippany,||  August,  1778. 

"  I  have  made  several  attempts  to  obey  an  injunction 
laid  upon  me  by  my  dear  Papa,  in  a  letter  to  General 
Maxwell,  but  have  always  been  interrupted,  or  entirely 
prevented  by  trivial  accidents,  which,  though  important 
enough  to   prevent  my  writing,  are   scarce  worth  men- 

*  Eldest  son  of   the  Earl  of   Perth,         J  The  late  Alderman  Bayard — own- 

who  visited  America  to  look  after  his  er  of  Bayard's  farm,  now  in  the  heart 

father's  interests  as  a  Proprietor  of  East  of  the  city  of  New- York. 
Jersey.  §  Afterwards    married     to     Colonel 

t  William   Smith,    the   historian   of  William  Duer. 
New-York, — afterwards    Chief  Justice         ||  Where    Gov.    Livingston's   family 

of  Canada,  an  early  and  intimate  friend  had  taken  refuge    from   Elizabethtown 

of  Lord  Stirling's.  on  its  invasion  by  the  British. 


202  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

tioning  to  you.  Colonel  Livingston  going  to  camp,  at 
last  furnishes  me  with  an  opportunity  of  acquainting  you 
with  every  thing  that  my  memory  retains  of  our  jaunt  to 
New-York. 

"  In  the  first  place  we  had  the  satisfaction  of  being 
treated  civilly  by  the  British  officers.  One  indignity, 
indeed,  we  received  from  General  Grant*  who  ordered 
a  sergeant  to  conduct  the  Flag  to  town,  instead  of  an 
officer  ;  but  we  were  so  happy  at  getting  permission  to 
go  on,  that  we  readily  excused  this  want  of  politeness. 
Our  acquaintances  in  town  were  very  polite  to  us :  many, 
indeed,  were  remarkably  attentive ;  but  whether  it  pro- 
ceeded from  regard  to  themselves,  or  us,  is  hard  to  de- 
termine. The  truth  is,  they  are  a  good  deal  alarmed  at 
their  situation,  and  wish  to  make  as  much  interest  as 
possible  on  our  side.  The  sentiments,  I  really  believe, 
of  a  great  number,  have  undergone  a  thorough  change, 
since  they  have  been  with  the  British  army ;  as  they 
have  many  opportunities  of  seeing  flagrant  acts  of  injus- 
tice and  cruelty  which  they  could  not  have  believed 
their  friends  capable  of,  if  they  had  not  been  eye-wit- 
nesses of  their  conduct.  This  convinces  them,  that  if 
they  conquer,  we  must  live  in  abject  slavery. 

"  Mamma  has,  I  suppose,  mentioned  to  you  the  dis- 
tressed situation  in  which  we  found  poor  Mary.  The 
alarms  of  the  fire,  and  of  the  explosion,  added  to  her 
recent  misfortune,  kept  her  for  several  days  in  a  very 
weak  state ;  but  we  had  the  satisfaction  to  leave  her 
perfectly  recovered.  The  child  she  now  has  is  one  of 
the  most  charming  little  creatures  I  ever  saw,  and  by  all 
accounts  is  more  likely  to  live  than  either  of  the  others. 

*  The  same  who  had  been  opposed  to  Lord  S.,  at  the  battle  of  L.  I. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 


203 


Mr.  Watts,  I  am  happy  to  find,  is  among  the  number  of 
those  who  are  heartily  sick  of  British  tyranny;  and  as 
to  Mary,  her  political  principles  are  perfectly  rebellious. 
Several  gentlemen  of  your  former  acquaintance  in  the 
British  army  made  particular  inquiries  after  you.  Co- 
lonel Cosmo  Gordon,  brother  to  the  Duchess,  was  very 
desirous  of  making  acquaintance  with  us  on  your  account, 
but  we  happened,  unfortunately,  to  be  abroad  whenever 
he  called  upon  us.  The  Chief  Justice,  Lord  Drummond, 
Mr.  Barrow,  and  several  others,  begged  to  be  remember- 
ed to  you.  Lord  Drummond  is  very  anxious  to  have 
his  character  cleared  with  respect  to  his  parole  :  he  says 
you  know  the  circumstances,  and  wishes  you  would 
persuade  the  General  to  take  the  matter  into  considera- 
tion.*    1  believe  his  Lordship  would  be  very  happy  to 


*  Lord  Drummond,  as  has  been 
mentioned,  came  to  America  to  look 
after  the  affairs  of  his  father  as  a  Pro- 
prietary of  East  Jersey.  At  an  earlier 
period  he  had  made  an  unsuccessful  at- 
tempt to  produce  a  reconciliation  be- 
tween the  mother  country  and  the  Col- 
onies ;  but  afterwards  seems  to  have 
lost  the  confidence  of  the  whigs  of 
New  York,  from  his  intimacy  with 
Governor  Tryon,  and  some  of  the  lead- 
ing tories  in  that  city.  The  Commit- 
tee of  Safety,  therefore,  exacted  from 
him  his  parole  of  honour,  that  he  would 
hold  no  correspondence  directly  or  in- 
directly with  those  who  were  in  arms 
against  the  Colonies,  nor  go  into  any 
port  or  harbour  occupied  by  the  enemy, 
nor  on  board  their  ships.  He  subse- 
quently obtained  permission  from  the 
Committee,  to  visit  Bermuda  for  the 
benefit  of  his  health  ;  but  was  not,  by 
this  indulgence,  to  be  further  released 
from  his  parole.     In  his  zeal,  however, 


to  effect  a  pacification,  he  imprudently 
went  on  board  the  Asia  man-of-war, 
on  his  way  to  sea;  and  on  his  return, 
three  or  four  months  afterwards,  when 
the  British  fleet  lay  in  the  harbour,  he 
visited  Lord  Howe  with  the  same  view. 
He  drew  up  a  set  of  Articles,  which  he 
submitted  to  Lord  Howe,  who  approved 
them,  whereupon  they  were  transmit- 
ted by  Lord  Drummond  in  a  letter,  to 
General  Washington — who,  considering 
that  Lord  Drummond's  conduct  in  go- 
ing on  board  the  enemy's  ships  of  war, 
a  breach  of  his  parole,  objected  to  the 
mode  of  negociationhe  had  proposed.  He 
however  submitted  all  the  papers  to 
Congress,  but  the  decision  of  that  body 
was,  to  take  no  notice  of  Lord  Drum- 
mond or  his  negociation,  and  to  ap- 
prove of  the  course  adopted  towards 
him  by  General  Washington.  See 
Sparks'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol. 
III.  pp.  288  and  525,  and  Vol.  IV.  p. 
51. 


204  THE  L1FE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

become  an  American  subject  if  the  British  Parliament 
would  condescend  to  accede  to  our  Independence,  and 
he  is  iherefore  very  solicitous  to  secure  our  good  graces. 
"  Upon  the  whole,  I  think  we  may  call  our  jaunt 
a  very  agreeable  one,  though  it  was  chequered  with  some 
unlucky  circumstances.  For  my  own  part,  I  liked  it  so 
well,  that  I  could  wish  to  repeat  it  in  a  few  months,  if 
my  sister  does  not  get  permission  to  pay  us  a  visit.  I 
left  Mamma  very  well  two  days  ago,  to  pay  a  visit  to  the 
Governor's  [Livingston's]  family,  who  sent  the  Colonel 
with  an  absolute  command  to  fetch  me.  They  all  beg 
to  be  remembered  to  you. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

On  the  15th  of  October,  Lord  Stirling  repaired  to 
Elizabethtown,  whither  he  was  ordered  to  take  command 
of  the  troops  stationed  in  New  Jersey  to  watch  the  mo-i 
tions  of  the  British  fleet  and  army  at  New-York  ;  and 
on  this  service  he  was  employed  until  the  army  went 
into  winter  quarters.  At  the  opening  of  the  campaign 
of  1779,  he  was  ordered  to  march  with  the  Virginia 
division  under  his  command,  to  Pompton  Plains,  and  to 
cover  the  country  between  that  station  and  the  lines  be- 
low, extending  to  the  Hudson.  Major  Henry  Lee,  who 
with  his  corps  of  light-horse  was  attached  to  Lord  Stir- 
ling's command,  was  directed  by  him,  in  pursuance  of 
orders  from  the  Commander-in-Chief,  to  watch  the  mo- 
tions of  the  main  body  of  the  British  army.  In  his 
incursions,  which  extended  as  low  down  as  the  Hacken- 
sack,  he  obtained  intelligence  that  the  enemy's  troops  at 
Powles'  Hook,  were  extremely  remiss  in  watchfulness, 
from  the  security  they  felt  in  the  difficult  access  to  their 
post,  and  its  distance  from  the  nearest  body  of  Conti* 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  205 

nental  troops.  These  circumstances  suggested  to  Major 
Lee  the  project  of  surprising  and  carrying  off  the  gar- 
rison. A  detachment  from  Lord  Stirling's  division,  in- 
cluding three  hundred  men  specially  designed  for  the 
enterprise,  was  ordered  down  the  country  as  a  foraging 
party  ;  which,  being  usual,  excited  no  suspicion.  Lord 
Stirling  himself  followed  with  five  hundred  men,  and 
took  post  at  the  Hackensack  bridge,  in  readiness  to  af- 
ford the  assistance  that  might  be  necessary. 

About  three  o'clock  the  next  morning,  Major  Lee, 
with  his  detachment,  succeeded  in  carrying  the  main 
work  at  Powles'  Hook,  with  a  trifling  loss,  and  made 
upwards  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners.  But  the 
British  commandant  threw  himself,  with  forty  or  fifty 
Hessians,  into  a  strong  redoubt,  which  it  was  thought 
unadvisable  to  attack,  as  it  might  endanger  the  retreat 
of  the  party.  The  alarm  had  already  reached  New- 
York  ;  upon  perceiving  which,  Major  Lee  determined 
not  to  hazard  the  loss  of  his  detachment,  and  immedi- 
ately brought  off  his  troops  and  prisoners.  The  original 
plan  contemplated  his  retreat  across  the  Hackensack,  at 
a  point  below  the  bridge,  and  nearer  to  Powles'  Hook, 
as  being  more  secure  than  the  route  by  which  he  had 
advanced ;  but  finding  that  the  boats  which  had  been 
ordered  to  that  spot  had  been  withdrawn,  through  the 
stupidity  of  the  officer  in  charge  of  them,  he  despatched 
a  horseman  with  the  information  to  Lord  Stirling.  For- 
tunately his  Lordship  had  previously  been  apprised  of 
the  probability  of  the  disappointment,  and  had  taken  the 
precaution  to  detach  Colonel  Bull,  with  two  hundred 
fresh  troops,  to  meet  Lee  and  cover  his  retreat.  On 
making  his  report  of  the  affair  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief,  Lord  Stirling  received  from  him  a  letter,  express- 


206  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

ing  his  thanks,  and  requesting  them  to  be  given  to  the 
officers  and  troops  concerned  in  the  expedition.  He 
received  also  the  thanks  of  Congress.* 

After  the  army  had  gone  into  winter  quarters  at 
Morristown,  in  January,  1780,  Lord  Stirling  was  de- 
tached, at  the  head  of  about  two  thousand  five  hundred 
men,  to  attack  the  British  force  on  Staten  Island.  He 
crossed  with  his  party  from  Dehart's  Point,  on  the  Jer- 
sey shore,  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  and  marched 
towards  the  enemy's  works  in  the  interior  of  the  Island. 
But  his  movements  being  discovered,  the  enemy  were 
prepared  to  receive  him,  and  their  works  were  so  well 
situated,  and  appeared  so  strong,  that  an  assault  was 
thought  unadvisable.  Contrary  to  expectation  a  free  pas- 
sage was  found  to  be  open  by  water  to  New- York,  and 
during  the  day  the  British  were  reinforced  from  the  city  ; 
whereupon  Lord  Stirling  made  good  his  retreat  to  Eliza- 
bethtown.  There  was  some  skirmishing  however  by 
the  way,  two  or  three  men  were  killed  on  each  side,  and 
a  few  prisoners  made  by  the  Americans. 

While  the  detachment  continued  on  the  Island,  a 
number  of  persons  passed  over  from  the  main,  and  plun- 
dered the  inhabitants  ;  but  Lord  Stirling  ordered  a  strict 
search  to  be  made  for  the  plundered  articles,  and  took 
measures  for  restoring  them  to  their  owners. 

During  a  visit  to  his  residence  at  Baskenridge,  he 


*  The  following  are  the  Resolutions        "Resolved,  that  the  thanks  of  Congress 
passed  on  the  occasion,  viz. :  "  In  Con-     be   given  to  Major  General  Lord    Stir- 
gress,  September  24th,  1779.    Resolved,     ling,  for  the  judicious  measures  taken  by 
that  the  thanks  of  Congress  be  given  to     him,  to  forward  the  enterprise,  and  se- 
his  Excellency  General  Washington  for    cure  the  retreat  of  the  party." 
ordering,  with  so  much  wisdom,  the  late 
attack  upon  the  enemy's  fort  and  works 
at  Paulus  Hook." 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  207 

addressed  the  following  letter  to  the   Commander-in- 
Chief:— 


M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  General  Washington. 

"  Baskenridge,  March  24th,  1780. 

"  Dear  Sir, — 1  duly  received  your  letter  of  the  22d, 
accompanied  by  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  Governor 
Livingston,  with  twelve  copies  of  the  "  Act  for  recruit- 
ing the  number  of  men  therein  mentioned,"  within  this 
State.  I  immediately  requested  all  the  field  officers  in 
camp,  belonging  to  the  three  Jersey  regiments,  to  meet 
General  Maxwell  at  his  quarters,  in  order  to  fix  upon 
twelve  of  the  most  proper  officers  to  carry  the  law  into 
execution  in  the  different  counties  in  this  State  ;  which 
they  were  to  finish  yesterday  evening.  In  the  mean 
time  I  drew  up  the  inclosed  instructions, — twelve  copies 
of  which  were  made, — and  sent  them  with  the  laws  to 
Colonel  Barber,  who  has  promised  me  to  fill  up  the  blanks, 
and  to  see  the  recruiting  officers  sent  off  in  the  best 
manner,  and  as  soon  as  possible  :  I  expect  they  will  be 
off  to-morrow  if  the  weather  permits. 

"  I  hope  your  Excellency  will  find  the  instructions 
as  explicit  as  you  intended.  As  soon  as  I  get  from  Colo- 
nel Barber  the  return  of  the  officers'  names  and  ranks, 
and  the  different  counties  they  are  sent  to,  I  will  for- 
ward it  to  your  Excellency. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

On  the  23d  of  June,  a  British  army  of  five  thousand 
men,  under  General  Knyphausen,  marched  by  two  differ- 
ent routes  from  New- York,  and  advanced  with  great 
rapidity  towards  Springfield.     Colonel  Dayton  was  des- 


208  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

patched  against  one  of  the  columns,  and  Major  Lee 
against  the  other  ;  and  they  both  made  all  possible  op- 
position to  the  progress  of  the  enemy,  while  General 
Greene  concentrated  at  Springfield  the  different  corps 
under  his  command,  which  had  been  distributed  through 
the  country  for  the  purpose  of  guarding  the  roads  lead- 
ing through  the  passes  in  the  mountains  behind  that 
place.  Upon  receiving  information  of  the  enemy's  ap- 
proach, Lord  Stirling  issued  orders  to  Colonel  Ludlow  to 
collect  the  militia  from  his  neighbourhood,  and  march 
with  them  to  reinforce  General  Greene.  Upon  their 
return,  he  received  the  following  account  of  the  enemy's 
proceedings,  with  a  request  to  recall  his  orders  to  the 
militia. 

Major  General  Greene  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Connecticut  Farms,  June  23d,  1780.  ) 
"  5  o'clock  P.  M.      $ 

"  My  Lord, — Your  letter  was  handed  me  by  Colo- 
nel Ludlow.  The  enemy  advanced  this  morning  and 
forced  their  way  into  Springfield.  They  were  warmly 
opposed  by  several  corps  of  the  army,  and  after  burning 
almost  every  house  in  the  town  they  retreated.  We  are 
now  pressing  their  rear,  but  the  principal  part  of  their 
army  has  reached  Elizabethtown. 

u  I  wish  you  to  countermand  your  orders  to  the  mili- 
tia.    Their  services  will  not  be  wanted  at  this  time. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

On  the  next  day  Lord  Stirling  accordingly  issued  an 
order  to  the  militia  to  return  to  their  homes — except 
such  of  them  as  were  to  go  on  a  retour  of  duty  under 
General  Dickinson. 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  209 

No  similar  inroad  was  again  made  by  the  enemy,  in 
consequence,  probably,  of  intelligence  received  by  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  that  a  formidable  fleet  and  army  from 
France  was  expected  on  the  coast.  Their  arrival  was 
not  long  afterwards  announced  ;  and,  in  the  absence  of 
Sir  Henry,  with  the  flower  of  his  army,  on  an  expedi- 
tion against  Rhode  Island,  an  attack  on  New-York  was 
arranged  between  General  Washington  and  the  French 
General,  the  Compte  de  Rochambeau.  The  execution 
of  it  was,  however,  prevented  by  the  return  of  the  British 
force  from  Rhode  Island.  In  the  following  September 
this  plan  seems  to  have  been  revived.  A  Council  of 
War  was  held  on  the  subject,  and  the  written  opinions 
of  its  members  requested  by  the  Commander-in-Chief 
to  be  delivered  to  him  the  next  day.  The  following 
was  presented  by  Lord  Stirling  :  — 

"  In  obedience  to  your  Excellency's  request  in  Coun- 
cil the  6th  instant,  I  now  give  you  my  opinion  on  the 
several  questions  stated,  viz. : 

"  That  since  there  is  still  a  very  high  probability  of 
the  second  division's  arriving  from  France,  and  of  our 
soon  having  a  superiority  of  naval  force  in  these  seas,  we 
ought  to  adhere  to  our  original  plan  for  this  campaign  of 
co-operaiing  with  our  allies,  and  with  our  whole  force, 
for  the  reduction  of  New- York ;  and  then  pursuing  such 
other  objects  as  the  season  of  the  year  and  the  climates 
of  the  seats  of  operation  will  best  admit.  By  departing 
from  this  plan,  we  risk  every  thing ;  we  can  then  have 
no  other  objects  in  view  but  what  lie  at  a  great  distance  ; 
and  we  shall  lose  the  opportunity  of  striking  the  enemy 
at  the  fountain-head,  with  the  highest  probability  of 
success. 

14 


210  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

"  From  the  strength  of  the  two  armies,  as  stated  by 
your  Excellency,  and  the  particular  circumstance  of  ours 
having  in  it  a  number  of  levies  whose  times  will  expire 
on  the  1st  of  January  next,  I  am  clearly  of  opinion  that 
no  part  of  this  army  can  be  detached  to  the  Southern 
States,  without  putting  the  remainder  of  it  in  the  power 
of  the  enemy,  and  committing  the  Middle  and  Eastern 
States  to  his  mercy  ;  that  any  thing  less  than  the  whole  of 
this  army  would  be  an  inadequate  relief  to  the  Southern 
States  ;  and  that  the  marching  of  it  there  would  be 
by  no  means  an  advisable  measure,  at  present.  The 
only  probable  way  of  giving  effectual  relief  to  the 
Southern  States,  is  to  adhere  to  the  plan  of  co-operating 
with  our  allies  in  the  reduction  of  New-York,  and  then 
proceeding  with  such  a  fleet  and  army  to  Carolina  as 
would  insure  success  in  that  quarter. 

"  Camp  Kanahkumac,  September  9th,  1780." 

The  question  was  still  undecided,  when  the  Alliance 
frigate  arrived  with  intelligence  that  the  second  division 
of  the  French  fleet  was  blockaded  at  Brest,  by  a  British 
squadron.  General  Washington,  nevertheless,  adhered 
steadily  to  the  plan  of  attacking  New- York,  and  made 
the  most  vigorous  exertions  to  provide  means  for  its  ex- 
ecution. It  continued  to  form  the  subject  of  coriespond- 
ence  between  him  and  the  Compte  de  Rocharabeau, 
and  the  Chevalier  de  Ternay,  the  French  AdmVal ; 
and  a  personal  interview  was  eventually  agreed  upon 
between  them,  which  took  place  at  Hartford,  on  the 
21st  of  September.  At  this  interview  an  explicit  and 
detailed  arrangement  for  acting  against  New- York,  as 
well  as  ulterior  measures  for  the  campaign,  were  the 
subjects  of  discussion.     Several  plans  were  concerted, 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  21  1 

but  none  of  them  carried  into  execution  ;  in  consequence 
of  the  departure  of  the  French  fleet  under  the  Compte 
de  Guichen,  from  the  West  Indies,  directly  to  Europe, 
instead  of  coming,  as  had  been  expected,  to  the  United 
States.  This  untoward  circumstance  not  only  defeated 
every  hope  of  such  a  reinforcement  as  would  give  the 
Chevalier  de  Ternay  the  command  at  sea,  but  enabled 
the  British  to  increase  their  naval  superiority.  Admiral 
Rodney,  who  commanded  an  English  fleet  in  the  West 
Indies,  was  so  well  persuaded  that  the  Compte  de  Gui- 
chen, after  conveying  his  fleet  of  merchantmen  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  cruisers  among  the  Islands,  and  on  the 
coast,  would  return  for  the  purpose  of  co-operating 
against  New-York,  that  he  forthwith  set  sail  for  the 
American  Continent,  where  he  arrived  late  in  Septem- 
ber, with  eleven  ships  of  the  line  and  four  frigates. 
Thus  was  the  plan  in  question  frustrated  ;  and  no  other 
objects  of  importance  subsequently  presenting  them- 
selves, the  American  army  went  into  winter  quarters 
early  in  December. 

About  the  1st  of  the  ensuing  May,  another  interview- 
took  place  between  General  Washington  and  the 
Compte  de  Rochambeau,  for  digesting  plans  of  future 
operations.  A  vigorous  attack  on  New- York  was  again 
determined  on,  and  the  two  Generals  separated  to  direct 
the  necessary  preparations.  General  Washington  drew 
the  several  divisions  of  his  army  from  their  quarters, 
advanced  towards  New-York,  and  encamped  on  the  4th 
of  July  at  Dobbs's  ferry,  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hudson, 
and  about  twelve  miles  above  Kingsbridge,  which  unites 
the  island  of  New- York  with  the  main.  On  the  6th, 
he  was  joined  by  the  Compte  de  Rochambeau  with  the 
French  army.     A  detachment  of  eight  hundred  men, 


212  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

under  General  Lincoln,  descended  the  Hudson  in  boats, 
landed  near  Harlaem,  and  took  possession  of  the  neigh- 
bouring heights ;  while  the  Due  de  Lauzun  was  to  ad- 
vance with  his  legion  from  East  Chester  on  Long  Island 
Sound,  and  fall  upon  De  Lancey's  corps  of  refugees  at 
Morrisania,  on  the  easterif  bank  of  Harlaem  river.  But 
the  Duke  did  not  arrive  soon  enough  to  effect  the  part 
of  the  enterprise  assigned  to  him.  After  some  skirmish- 
ing between  Lincoln  and  the  enemy,  the  outposts  of  the 
latter  were  withdrawn,  and  Washington  advanced  with 
the  main  army  as  far  as  Valentine's  hill,  four  miles  from 
Kingsbridge,  in  order  to  support  Lincoln  in  case  it  should 
be  necessary.  The  troops  lay  upon  their  arms  during 
the  night,  and,  in  consequence  of  the  failure  of  the 
French  part  of  the  expedition,  returned  the  next  day 
to  Dobbs's  ferry. 

While  the  army  lay  at  that  place  Lord  Stirling 
received  the  following  letter  from  his  son-in-law  Mr. 
Duer. 


Colonel  William  Duer  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"Rhynbeck,  July  22nd,  1781. 

"  My  Dear  Lord,— We  learn  with  much  regret  that 
Mr.  Couenhoven,  our  neighbour,  is  taken  prisoner  on 
board  a  boat  laden  with  bread  for  the  French  army. 
His  wife  is  extremely  afflicted  at  the  circumstance,  and 
wishes  to  know  whether  he  was  certainly  made  a  pri- 
soner, whether  he  was  wounded  by  the  enemy,  and  how 
he  was  treated.  It  will  be  an  act  of  humanity,  to  desire 
the  Deputy  Commissary  of  prisoners  to  inquire  minute- 
ly into  the  circumstances ;  and  I  am  sensible  that 
when  I  request  you  to  interest  yourself  in  this  inquiry,  I 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  213 

propose  what  is  most  agreeable  to  your  own  wishes  and 
character. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Both  Lord  Stirling  and  his  correspondent,  as  well  as 
the  person  at  whose  instance  the  letter  was  written,  had 
the  satisfaction  of  learning  that  the  prisoner  was  not 
only  in  safety,  but,  in  consequence  of  their  interference, 
would  be  speedily  released. 

A  plan  for  a  general  attack  upon  the  enemy  in  New- 
York  was  once  more  formed ;  but  while  the  preliminary 
operations  were  in  progress,  a  French  frigate  arrived  at 
Newport,  with  a  letter  from  the  Compte  de  Grasse  to 
General  Washington,  dated  at  St.  Domingo,  stating  that 
he  should  shortly  sail  with  his  whole  fleet  and  an  army 
of  three  thousand  two  hundred  men,  for  the  Chesapeake. 
It  was  therefore  resolved  at  once  to  abandon  the  project 
of  besieging  New-York,  and  proceed  to  Virginia  with 
the  whole  of  the  French  army,  and  such  of  the  American 
troops  as  could  be  spared  from  the  defence  of  the  posts 
on  Hudson's  River. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

1781. 

Lord  Stirling  was  now  ordered  to  repair  to  Albany 
to  take  command  of  the  troops  in  the  Northern  depart- 
ment, where  apprehensions  were  entertained  of  another 
invasion  from  Canada.  On  reaching  the  ferry  at  Green- 
bush,  opposite  to  Albany,  he  received  the  following  in- 
teresting and  somewhat  characteristic  letter  from  Gene- 
ral John  Stark,  who  had  distinguished  himself  for  his 
bravery  and  good  conduct  upon  the  advance  of  Burgoyne, 
and  was  now  in  command  of  the  post  at  Saratoga. 

Brigadier  General  Stark  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

<;  Saratoga,  October  21st,  1781. 

"  My  Lord, — I  was  last  night  informed  that  your 
Lordship  was  on  the  way  to  take  command  of  the  North- 
ern department,  and  am  very  happy  that  an  officer  of 
your  influence  and  military  experience  has  been  appoint- 
ed to  this  critical  and  important  command.  I  have  no 
doubt  that  in  case  the  enemy  should  make  a  descent, 
that  with  the  assistance  of  your  good  dispositions,  the 
valour  of  the  troops,  and  the  militia  that  can  be  called 
into  the  field  at  the  shortest  notice,  will  enable  you  to 
render  a  satisfactory  account  of  any  party  that  can  be 
sent  from  Canada.  But  at  present,  1  rather  hope  than 
really  expect  that  they  will  come  this  campaign. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  215 

"  The  militia  from  Berkshire  I  have  dismissed,  re- 
serving only  three  hundred  of  their  best  men,  properly 
officered,  for  a  few  days,  until  I  have  further  intelligence 
from  the  enemy.  But  the  generous  contest  among  those 
brave  men  for  the  privilege  of  tarrying,  was  not  less 
worthy  of  remark,  than  their  readiness  in  turning  out  to 
repel  the  enemy.  In  the  room  of  being  drafted  to  tarry, 
as  was  expected,  the  officers  were  under  the  necessity 
of  drafting  those  who  went  home, — a  conduct  so  singular 
and  remarkable  among  militia,  that  it  ought  to  be  handed 
down  to  the  latest  posterity,  as  a  mark  of  their  magnan- 
imous zeal  for  the  service  and  defence  of  their  country. 

"I  am,  &c." 

Upon  reading  this  letter,  Lord  Stirling  immediately 
issued  orders  to  Colonel  Tupper,  who  commanded  the 
Continental  troops  in  and  about  Albany,  to  put  his  troops 
under  orders  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning,  with  as 
little  baggage  as  possible,  that  they  might  be  prepared 
to  act  as  circumstances  might  require,  but  to  delay 
their  march  until  he  should  see  him  in  the  morning. 

On  his  arrival  at  Albany  the  next  day,  he  received, 
by  express,  further  and  more  particular  intelligence  of 
the  enemy,  and  gave  orders  to  Brigadier  Generals  Van 
Rensselaer  and  Gansevoort,  to  call  out  the  militia  of  the 
neighbourhood,  Under  their  respective  commands. 

The  next  day  he  answered  the  letter  of  General 
Stark,  by  express,  and  informed  him  of  the  measures  he 
had  taken  in  consequence  of  the  information  he  had  re- 
ceived from  him. 


216  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Brigadier  General  Stark. 

';  Head-quarters,  Albany,  October  24th,  1781. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Your  letter  of  the  21st  instant  was 
received  yesterday.  Your  friendly  observations  upon  my 
abilities  rather  paint  me  the  person  I  wish  to  be,  than 
the  one  I  sincerely  think  I  am.  Be  that  as  it  may,  man- 
kind are  led,  however  unjustly,  to  judge  of  the  conduct  of 
officers,  not  so  much  by  their  abilities,  as  by  their  success. 
The  events  of  this  campaign  are  as  yet  beyond  the  reach 
of  human  foresight ;  yet,  when  I  consider  the  known 
valour  of  the  troops,  and  the  ready  assistance  which  the 
militia  will  afford,  together  with  the  proved  courage  and 
firmness  of  the  General  who  is  second  in  command,  1  can 
venture  to  say  with  pleasure,  and  with  some  degree  of 
certainty,  that  should  the  enemy  advance,  the  success 
of  the  American  arms  will  equal  our  most  sanguine 
wishes. 

"  Colonel  Tupper  marches  this  morning  with  the 
New  Hampshire  brigade,  by  the  directest  road  to  Sara- 
toga, to  receive  your  orders.  A  quantity  of  provisions 
will  also  move  on  this  morning — about  fifty  wagon  loads 
— which  I  hope  will  be  such  a  supply  as  to  put  you  be- 
yond the  fear  of  want  for  the  present.  I  have  written 
to  Generals  Rensselaer  and  Gansevoort  to  put  their 
brigades  of  militia  in  perfect  readiness  to  march  at  the 
shortest  notice  ;  which,  considering  their  situation,  will 
answer  the  same  purpose  as  their  marching,  unless  the 
enemy  should  make  a  more  sudden  and  rapid  movement 
than  they  probably  will.  If  the  party  be  small,  your 
troops,  with  those  at  Castletown,  will  be  sufficient.  If 
large,  their  movements  must  be  slower  in  proportion, 
and  will  give  time  to  call  out  the  militia. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  211 

"  Nothing  is  of  more  importance  in  military  affairs 
than  good  intelligence.  So  much  will  depend  upon  it 
in  defending  these  frontiers,  and  checking  the  progress 
of  the  enemy,  that  I  must  desire  you  will  constantly 
keep  out  small  parties  of  the  most  trusty  commissioned 
officers  and  men,  in  such  parts  of  the  country,  and  in 
such  directions,  as  will  give  the  earliest  intelligence  of 
the  force  of  the  enemy,  with  their  least  movement ;  and 
I  need  only  suggest  to  you  the  importance  of  communi- 
cating it  to  me  as  soon  as  possible. 

"  I  must  request  you  to  make  a  return  of  the  troops 
at  Saratoga,  Castletown,  and  elsewhere  under  your  com- 
mand, designating  the  terms  of  service  of  each  regiment 
exclusive  of  the  regular  troops  ;  and,  that  proper  ar- 
rangements may  be  made,  it  is  necessary  that  this  should 
be  done  as  soon  as  it  can  be  effected  with  any  degree  of 
precision. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  return  of  the  express  brought  the  following  : 

Brigadier  General  Stark  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Saratoga,  October  25th.  1781. 

"  My  Lord, — Your  letter  of  yesterday  came  this 
day  to  hand  by  express.  Colonel  Tupper's  detachment 
I  expect  will  join  me  this  evening  ;  some  of  his  officers 
have  already  arrived,  and  the  year  is  now  so  far  advanced 
that  the  enemy  must  make  their  stroke  soon  ;  otherwise 
the  inclement  season  now  advancing  will  infallibly  pre- 
vent their  putting  any  thing  of  consequence  into  execu- 
tion this  campaign. 

"  Unless  Generals  Rensselaer's  and  Gansevoort's 
men  are  now  on  their  march,  I  shall  have  little  hope  of 


218  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

receiving  any  considerable  advantage  from  their  assist- 
ance ;  and  the  detachment  at  Castletown  affords  less 
hope,  from  the  remoteness  of  their  situation.  And  fur- 
ther, they  are  by  no  means  to  be  considered  under  my 
command,  except  two  hundred  from  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire  ;  the  remainder  (which  make  eight  hundred) 
are  raised,  paid,  and  subsisted  by  the  State  of  Vermont, 
and  are  subject  to  the  orders  of  their  Governor,  indepen- 
dent of  any  other  authority.* 

"  I  shall  direct  my  deputy  Adjutant  General  to  make 
out  a  return  of  the  troops  on  this  ground,  which  shall 
be  sent  immediately,  and  will  write  to  Castletown  for  a 
return  of  the  troops  there,  but  I  cannot  assure  your 
Lordship  that  they  will  be  complaisant  enough  to  send  it. 

"  My  last  intelligence  from  the  north  was  from  Gen- 
eral Enos,  the  Vermont  commander  on  the  frontiers,  of 
which  the  following  is  an  extract : — '  By  a  scout  from 
Ti,f  I  am  informed  that  several  tents  were  standing  at 
old  Ti.  He  also  heard  the  beating  of  the  long  roll  to  the 
south  of  the  Mount  (Independence),  supposed  to  be  at 
the  old  Scotchman's ;  but  in  the  situation  in  which  he 
was,  it  might  be  heard  from  the  mills ;  and  since  we 
make  no  further  discovery,  it  is  my  opinion  the  enemy 
have  proceeded  to  Lake  George.' 

"  This  is  all  the  intelligence  I  have  received  since 
their  arrival  at  Ticonderoga.  My  scouts  are  continually 
traversing  the  roads  that  lead  to  this  post,  so  that  it 
will  be  very  difficult  for  any  enemy  to  arrive  without  my 
knowledge. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

*  Vermont,  it  will  be  recollected,  had  Federal  Constitution,  that  she  was  ad- 

not  as  yet  been  recognised  as  an  hide-  mitted  into  the  Union, 
pendent  state  ;  nor  was   it   until   some         t  Ticonderoga. 
years  after  the  adoption  of  the    present 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  219 

The  same  day  Lord  Stirling  received  information 
that  a  body  of  the  enemy  were  within  eight  miles  of 
Schenectady.  He  therefore  ordered  Colonel  Tupper  to 
march  with  his  brigade — then  on  its  route  to  Saratoga 
— as  rapidly  as  possible  to  that  city.  Upon  which  he 
received  the  following. 

Brigadier  General  Stark  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  9  o'clock.  25th  October. 

"  Mv  Lord, — 1  am  just  favoured  with  a  sight  of  your 
letter  of  this  date  to  Colonel  Tupper,  directing  his  march 
to  Schenectady,  to  oppose  the  enemy,  supposed  to  be 
committing  depredations  in  that  neighbourhood.  Con- 
sidering the  circumstances  of  the  extreme  long  march 
they  have  made  this  day,  and  the  great  improbability 
that  this  party  is  either  so  large  as  represented,  or  de- 
signed for  any  other  purpose  than  drawing  our  attention 
that  way,  while  the  party  which  I  suppose  to  be  at  Lake 
George  can  make  their  capital  stroke  in  this  quarter. — 
These  are  my  apprehensions,  and  I  believe  them  ground 
ed  on  the  greatest  probability. 

"  In  my  present  situation,  I  have  not  more  than  one 
thousand  men  fit  for  action,  including  those  that  arrived 
here  this  day.  Three  hundred  of  the  Berkshire  militia 
went  off  to-day,  notwithstanding  my  most  earnest  en- 
treaties to  the  contrary ;  and  after  this,  when  I  am  in 
hourly  expectation  of  the  enemy's  making  his  appear- 
ance to  the  amount  of  fifteen  hundred  at  least,  to  divide 
this  force  would  be  imprudent  to  the  last  degree.  The 
party  that  I  imagine  to  be  creating  this  disturbance  is  one 
of  about  thirty  or  forty  men  who  crossed  the  Sacondaga 
four  or  five  days  ago  ;  and  they  are  very  probably  joined 
by  some   of  the   tories  of  the  country  where   they  are 


220  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

doing  the  mischief.  Their  tracks  were  discovered  by 
one  of  my  scouts,  between  Monroe's  and  Sir  John's 
[Johnson's]  roads,  and  supposed  to  be  a  party  designed 
to  gain  intelligence.  However,  my  Lord,  if  these  ar- 
guments do  not  see^ri  just  and  reasonable,  let  me  know 
your  orders,  and  they  shall  be  implicitly  obeyed. 

«l  am,  &c." 

Before  receiving  this  letter,  Lord  Stirling  had  coun- 
termanded his  former  orders,  having  in  the  interval  ascer- 
tained that,  after  burning  the  settlement  at  Warren's 
bush,  the  party  in  question  had  retired  by  the  way  of  Scho- 
harie on  the  south  side  of  the  Mohawk.  He  thereupon 
apprised  General  Stark  by  express  that  he  had  ordered 
Colonel  Tupper  to  rejoin  him  as  soon  as  possible. 

In  consequence  however  of  information  received  the 
next  morning,  the  following  was  despatched  to  Saratoga. 


M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Brigadier  General  Stark. 

"  Albany,  October  26th,  1781,  9  o'clock  A.  M. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Since  writing  to  you  by  express  last 
evening,  1  have  received  such  intelligence  as  induces  me 
to  think  it  probable  the  enemy  will  attempt  to  retreat  by 
the  way  of  Sacondaga.  I  wish  you  to  look  critically  to 
that  quarter,  and  intercept  them  if  possible.  Colonel 
Willet's*  force  I  fear  is  not  equal  to  that  of  the  enemy, 
neither  of  which  have  I  yet  been  able  to  ascertain,  which 
obliges  me  to  request  you  to  send  him  a  reinforcement, 
if  you  think  it  can   be   done  without  weakening  your 


*  Lieut.  Colonel  Marinus  Willet,  of    nental  service,  who  had  been  detached  to 
the   New-York    troops    in   the    Conti-     the  Westward. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  £21 

strength  at  Saratoga  too  much.     By  the  last  accounts 
he  is  at  or  near  Johnstown. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Two  days  after  the  date  of  the  above,  General  Stark 
transmitted  to  Lord  Stirling,  the  following  letter  from 
the  officer  commanding  the  Vermont  militia  on  the 
Northern  frontier. 

Brigadier  General  Enos  to  Brigadier  General  Stark. 

•'  Head-quarters,  October  26th,  1781. 

"  Dear  Sir, — This  instant  yours  of  yesterday  came 
to  hand.  Since  my  last  intelligence  to  you,  I  have  had 
the  return  of  three  scouts  who  left  the  Mount  on  Mon- 
day, Tuesday  and  Wednesday.  There  were  three  armed 
vessels,  also  a  number  of  batteaux  lying  on  Ticonderoga 
side.  The  enemy  were  encamped  on  old  Ti.  Lieu- 
tenant Johnson,  who  watched  their  motions  for  a  whole 
day,  supposed  their  number  must  consist  of  one  thou- 
sand men. 

"I  am,  &c." 

"N.  B.  Whilst  I  am  writing  as  above,  Major  Arm- 
strong, commandant  at  Pittsford,  informs  me  that  a  scout 
of  his  returned  from  Crown  Point  on  Wednesday.  Seven 
of  the  enemy's  ships  were  then  lying  at  or  near  the  point." 

Brigadier  General  Stark  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Saratoga,  October  27th,  1781. 

"  My  Lord, — Your  letter  of  the  26th  came  to  hand 
last  night ;  but,  as  it  was  left  to  my  discretion  to  send 
the  reinforcement  to  Johnstown,  or  to  wTatch  the  motions 
of  the  enemy  in  that  quarter,  I  prefer  the  latter,  as  in- 


22-2  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

finitely  the  most  likely  to  succeed.  For  should  I  send 
a  reinforcement  to  Johnstown,  it  would  be  at  least  three 
days  before  they  would  arrive  there,  and  before  that 
time  the  enemy  will  be  gone.  If  1  watch  Monroe's  and 
Sir  John's  roads,  there  is  some  probability  1  may  inter- 
cept them  at  Jessup's  patent ;  although  I  must  own  to 
your  Lordship,  that  the  probability  is  not  very  great,  by 
reason  of  the  great  distance  they  are  from  this  place. 

"  I  have  nothing  from  the  enemy  since  my  last ;  but 
expect  an  express  from  Skenesborough  every  moment. 
Last  night  a  boat  was  stolen  from  this  side  of  the  river 
and  taken  across  by  one  or  two  men.  They  were  fired 
upon,  but  would  not  return.  I  am  apprehensive  they 
were  spies  that  had  been  in  our  camp,  and  took  that 
method  to  make  their  escape. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  express  mentioned  above  brought  the  following 
important  information,  from 

Colonel  Walbridge  to  Brigadier  General  Stark. 

"  Head-quarters,  Skenesborough,  October  27th,  1781. 

"  Sir, — This  instant  a  deserter  from  the  enemy 
arrived  at  this  post  who  left  Mount  Independence  last 
evening,  at  eleven  o'clock.  By  him  I  am  informed  that 
General  St.  Leger  arrived  at  Ti  on  Monday  last,  with 
four  gun-boats,  two  ammunition-boats,  and  thirty  bat- 
teaux,  with  a  number  of  shipping,  and  two  thousand 
men.  Ten  batteaux  and  one  whale-boat  have  been 
taken  over  to  Lake  George.  The  number  of  men  with 
them,  and  their  destination,  is  unknown  to  him,  he  being 
a  sailor  on  board  the  gun-boats,  which  lay  in  the  bay 
this  side  the  Mount. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  223 

"  The  above  is  the  substance  of  the  intelligence  he 
gives.  He  appears  to  be  very  intelligent,  and  his  inten- 
tions good. 

"I  am,  &c." 

M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Brigadier  General  Stark. 

"  Head-quarters,  Albany,  October  28th,  1781. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Yours  of  the  27th  came  to  hand  last 
evening.  I  am  very  unhappy  that  your  parties  have 
not,  any  of  them,  as  yet  been  able  to  know  the  force 
and  situation  of  the  enemy.  Want  of  such  intelligence 
renders  it  exceedingly  difficult  to  give  the  necessary  or- 
ders to  the  militia.  However,  upon  your  assurances 
that  the  enemy  are  in  force  upon  Lake  George,  and  ad- 
vancing, I  have  written  to  the  several  officers  command- 
ing brigades  of  militia,  to  march  with  what  men  they 
can  call  out,  to  your  assistance.  Very  soon,  I  presume, 
it  will  be  ascertained  whether  they  come  on  or  not,  at 
this  season ;  after  which,  the  militia  can  come  home 
with  safety.  General  Rensselaer  will  join  you  this  day, 
or  to-morrow ;  he  is  on  his  way  with  part  of  his  brigade. 

"  The  party  to  the  westward,  you  perceive,  was 
larger  than  you  imagined.  The  latest  intelligence  from 
that  quarter,  you  have  enclosed.  We  have  accounts — 
which,  by  the  way,  are  not  official — that  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  surrendered  with  his  whole  army,  on  the  17th. 

"I  am,  &c." 

Brigadier  General  Stark  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"Head-quarters,  Saratoga,  October  28th,  1781. 

"My  Lord, — Captain  Crary  returned  from  Lake 
George,  this  instant,  and  informs  me  that  one  of  the 


224  THE  LIPE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

enemy's  gun-boats  came  so  nigh  the  shore  that  she 
threw  several  shot  over  his  head  ;  and  that  he  perceived 
a  very  large  smoke  at  the  Narrows,  supposed  to  be  an 
encampment. 

"  I  enclose  two  copies  of  letters  from  General  Enos, 
whereby  you  will  perceive  the  enemy's  motions  at  Ti. 
What  their  design  is,  I  am  unable  to  determine  ;  per- 
haps against  this  place ;  if  so,  I  shall  endeavour  to  give 
them  a  reception  they  will  not  like. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

On  receiving  this  intelligence  Lord  Stirling  repaired 
in  person  to  Saratoga  ;  and  on  his  arrival  despatched 
orders  to  General  Gansevoort,  to  put  in  immediate 
motion  such  of  his  brigade  as  had  not  yet  marched,  and 
bring  them  up  to  that  post  as  soon  as  possible,  furnished 
with  five  or  six  days'  provisions.  But  these  orders  were 
afterwards  countermanded  at  the  request  of  the  Corpo- 
ration of  Albany,  in  consequence  of  the  alarm  prevailing 
among  the  inhabitants  of  that  city,  from  the  approach  of 
the  British  army.  General  Gansevoort  was  nevertheless 
directed  to  hold  himself  in  readiness  to  act  as  occasion 
might  require,  either  as  a  detachment  for  the  immediate 
defence  of  Albany,  or  in  conjunction  with  the  main 
body  of  Lord  Stirling's  force. 

The  incursion  of  the  enemy  mentioned  in"  the  pre- 
ceding correspondence,  was  the  renewal  of  a  similar 
plan  of  invasion  to  that  which  resulted  in  the  surrender 
of  Burgoyne  ;  and  had  the  attempt  been  persevered  in,  it 
would  probably  have  terminated  in  the  same  manner  :  for 
although  the  army  of  Lord  Stirling  was  inferior  in  num- 
bers, and  in  its  proportion  of  regular  troops,  to  that  of 
General   Gates,  yet  the  militia  had  turned  out  with 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  £25 

greater  alacrity  and  confidence,  in  consequence  of  their 
former  success.  They  had  besides  a  predilection  in 
favour  of  Lord  Stirling,  which  did  not  exist  with  regard 
either  to  General  Schuyler  or  General  Gates ; — not  that 
they  had  greater  confidence  in  his  abilities  as  a  com- 
mander, but  his  soldierly  frankness,  and  even  the  dignity 
of  his  manners,  combined  as  they  were  with  a  disposi- 
tion and  habits  calculated  at  once  to  conciliate  and  in- 
spire confidence,  without  encouraging  familiarity,  or 
impairing  his  authority, — qualities  which,  together  with 
the  firmness  and  consistency  of  his  conduct,  his  constant 
attention  to  the  wants  and  comforts  of  his  troops,  and 
the  ready  ear  he  lent  to  their  reasonable  complaints, 
gained  their  affections ;  whilst  his  foresight,  vigilance, 
and  energy,  the  promptness  and  efficacy  of  his  mea- 
sures, commanded  their  respect.  The  support  too  which 
he  gave  to  Stark  and  Willet,  the  discrimination  he  had 
shown  in  their  selection,  and  in  the  choice  of  other  in- 
ferior officers  for  special  service,  not  only  attached  those 
individuals  to  him  personally,  but  secured  to  him  the 
approbation  and  esteem  of  the  whole  army.  It  was, 
therefore,  with  equal  confidence  in  their  General  and 
themselves,  and  with  hopes  and  resolutions  strengthened 
by  the  omen  of  the  place,  that  the  troops  at  Saratoga 
prepared  to  meet  the  enemy  on  the  same  field,  where 
the  American  arms  had  already  achieved  so  signal  a 
triumph. 

It  was  the  intention  of  Lord  Stirling  to  concentrate 
his  forces,  and  make  his  stand  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Hudson,  near  the  present  bridge  at  Fort  Miller,  there  to 
await  the  attack  of  the  enemy,  and  dispute  the  passage 
of   the    river.     He    issued,   accordingly,  the  following 


15 


226  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

Order  of  Battle,  accompanied  by  the  annexed  explana- 
tory programme. 

"  Order  of  battle  for  the  army  at  Saratoga,  under  the 
command  of  Major  General  Lord  Stirling ; — Novem- 
ber 1st,  1781. 

"  The  New  Hampshire  brigade,  consisting  of  Scam- 
mel's,  Read's,  and  Tupper's  regiments,  to  form  on  the 
left,  in  the  order  they  are  named,  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Tupper.  Weissenfeldt's,  Sears's,  and  McKin- 
stry's  regiments  to  form  a  brigade,  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Weissenfeldt,  on  the  right  of  Colonel  Tupper. 
The  whole  of  this  first  line  to  be  under  the  command  of 
Brigadier  General  Stark. 

"  On  the  left  of  this  line,  at  about  one  hundred 
yards  distant,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  picked 
marksmen,  from  General  Rensselaer's  brigade,  in  fwe 
bodies,  each  commanded  by  a  Captain,  to  spread  at  the 
distance  of  sixty  yards  from  each  other.  These  are  to 
commence  firing  on  the  enemy's  right  flank  as  soon  as 
they  can  get  within  a  good  distance  to  make  their  fire 
effectual ;  and  are  to  observe  a  deliberate  and  well 
aimed  fire,  and  are  never  to  give  it  but  when  they  are 
sure  of  their  mark.  They  are  to  be  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Henry  J.  Van  Rensselaer.  In  like 
manner  the  right  wing  is  to  be  covered  by  two  similar 
parties  from  General  Gansevoort's  brigade. 

"  The  second  line  is  to  be  composed  of  the  remain- 
der of  General  Rensselaer's  brigade  in  two  bodies, 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Van  Alstine,  and  Colonel 
Waterman,  for  the  left  wing ;  and  the  remainder  of 
General  Gansevoort's  brigade  will  compose  the  right 
wing  of  the  second  line. 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  229 

"  General  Rensselaer  will  command  on  the  left,  and 
will  superintend  the  flank  of  the  first  line.  In  like  man- 
ner, General  Gansevoort  will  command  on  the  right. 

"  On  all  movements  to  the  northward,  the  armj  is 
to  march  by  the  left ;  and  southward  by  the  right. 

"  Our  friends  on  the  east  side  of  Hudson's  river 
will  watch  the  enemy,  and  embarrass  them  as  much  as 
possible  on  the  flanks  and  rear." 

The  next  day  Lord  Stirling  had  the  pleasure  of  an- 
nouncing to  his  troops  the  glorious  termination  of  the 
campaign  in  the  Southern  States,  in  the  surrender  of 
the  British  army  to  the  combined  American  and  French 
forcesunder  General  Washington.  Thisdecisive  event,in 
addition  to  the  severity  of  the  season,  deterred  the  enemy 
from  prosecuting  their  designs  in  the  North,  and  deter- 
mined Lord  Stirling  to  prepare  to  act  on  the  offensive. 
Being,  however,  subsequently  convinced  that  General 
St.  Leger  would  attempt  nothing  farther  during  the 
remainder  of  the  year,  he  dismissed  the  militia,  and 
returned  himself  to  Albany,  whence  he  immediately 
renewed  his  correspondence  with  General  Stark,  whom 
he  left  with  the  regular  troops  at  Saratoga. 


M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Brigadier  General  Stark, 

"Head-quarters,  Albany,  November  6th,  1781. 

"  Sir, — Since  my  leaving  Saratoga,  I  have  received 
a  letter  from  Colonel  Willet  giving  a  particular  account 
of  the  action  near  Johnstown,  and  of  his  pursuit  after- 
wards. They  were  very  precipitate  in  their  retreat, 
leaving  behind  them  their  packs,  blankets,  &c,  which  were 
found  strewed  through  the  woods.     He  pursued  them 


230  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

eight  miles  beyond  Canada  creek.  Before  his  arrival 
at  that  place,  he  fell  in  with  about  forty,  who  were  left 
in  the  rear  to  procure  provisions.  He  instantly  dis- 
persed them.  At  the  creek,  he  came  up  with  the  rear, 
when  an  action  commenced,  in  which  Major  Walter 
Butler  fell,  with  a  number  of  others.  Finding  his  own 
provisions  very  short,  and  the  probability  of  coming  up 
with  the  main  body  not  very  great,  he  wisely  gave  over 
the  pursuit,  leaving  them  in  a  situation  promising  little 
short  of  certain  death  from  cold  and  hunger, — an  end 
more  befitting  such  a  band  of  murderers  and  plunderers, 
than  the  bayonet  and  ball.  As  they  must  have  been, 
at  his  quitting  them,  more  than  eight  days'  march  from 
any  place  where  they  could  procure  provisions,  the  pur- 
pose of  an  entire  defeat  must  be  very  well  answered. 

"  I  am  &c." 

Brigadier  General  Stark  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Saratoga,  November  7th,  1781. 

"  My  Lord, — I  am  just  honoured  with  your  letter 
of  yesterday,  and  am  very  happy  to  hear  of  the  success 
of  Colonel  Willet.  The  death  of  Major  Butler  will 
doubtless  be  pleasing  news  to  the  frontiers — especially 
to  those  who  have  felt  the  sad  effects  of  his  murders  and 
ravages. 

"  Captain  Senter,  who  was  out  on  a  scout  to  the 
northward,  has  just  returned.  He  has  been  within 
about  twelve  miles  of  Ticonderoga.  He  discovered 
nothing  on  Lake  George ;  but  saw  four  boats,  on  the 
5th  instant,  opposite  to  Putnam's  Point  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  moving  to  the  northward.  He  discovered  no 
smoke,  or  signs  of  men  at  Ti,  or  Mount  Defiance. 
Captain  Emerson,  who  went  to  the  northward,  returned 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  231 

without  making  any  discovery ;  and  after  summing  up 
their  two  accounts,  I  think  we  may  pursue  our  block- 
houses without  interruption,  or  without  any  great  appre- 
hension of  a  visit  until  they  are  finished.  I  engaged 
with  Colonel  Sears's  regiment,  that  upon  their  bringing 
timber  for  one  of  them,  they  should  have  a  discharge. 
They  finished  their  work  this  afternoon,  and  to-morrow 
are  to  go  off.  I  have  heard  nothing  from  Captain  Carr 
since  he  went  away. 

"  I  would  ask,  my  Lord,  that  some  German  steel, 
suitable  for  axes,  might  be  sent,  as  many  of  our  axes 
fail  ;  and  if  we  had  steel,  our  own  smiths  might  repair 
them.  I  would  beg  leave  to  suggest  whether  it  would 
not  be  very  proper  to  have  a  piece  of  iron  cannon,  in 
each  of  our  block-houses.  Two  suitable  pieces  are  now 
at  Schenectada.  If  you  agree  with  me  in  opinion,  I 
wish  they  may  be  sent  to  me. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Brigadier  General  Stark. 

"Albany.  November  9th,  1781. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Your  letter  of  the  7th,  came  to  hand 
yesterday  evening.  1  think,  by  the  accounts  of  Captains 
Senter  and  Emerson,  it  is  reduced  to  a  certainty  that 
the  enemy  to  the  northward  are  retired  into  Canada. 
Yet  I  would  wish  to  hear  from  Captain  Carr  soon  ;  for 
if  the  enemy  do  not  accept  my  proposal,  I  would  send 
the  prisoners  of  war  now  here,  down  the  river  before 
the  winter  sets  in,  and  let  them  take  New- York  in  their 
way  to  Canada.  Their  number  is  increased  to  fifty 
odd. 

"  I  have  ordered  some  very  good  German  steel  to 
be  sent  to  you,  and  will  inquire  into  the  state  of  the 


232  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

iron  cannon,  and  send  you  two  of  the  best  of  them  ;  I 
send  you  enclosed  an  account  of  Colonel  Willet's  loss  in 
his  late  encounters  with  the  enemy.  I  do  not  doubt 
theirs  will  be  the  destruction  of  their  whole  party. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Marinus 

WilleU 

"  Albany,  November  9th,  1781. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  have  received  yours  of  the  4th,  en- 
closing the  return  of  loss  you  sustained  in  your  encoun- 
ters with  the  enemy,  and  a  copy  of  the  orders  you  issued 
on  the  2nd.  I  have  expressed  my  sentiments  to  you 
on  that  subject  in  a  letter  of  the  5th,  and  am  very  sorry 
that  any  part  of  the  troops  under  your  command  deserve 
the  implied  censure  you  give  the  right  wing  ;  yet  I  can- 
not but  approve  the  discrimination  you  make  in  your 
thanks  to  those  who  behaved  more  worthily. 

"  Since  writing  the  above,  I  am  favoured  with  yours 
of  the  7th,  enclosing  the  paper  therein  mentioned,  of 
which  proper  notice  will  be  taken.  Pray  let  Lieuten- 
ant Ryckman  be  well  secured,  and  sent  to  me  as  soon 
as  the  Indians  can  spare  him. 

"  1  am,  &c." 

The  following  letter  to  the  officer  in  command  at 
West  Point,  is  another  proof  of  the  enterprising  spirit  of 
the  writer,  ever  on  the  alert  for  opportunities  of  activity 
and  usefulness. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  233 

M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Major  General  Heath. 
(secret.) 

"  Albany,  November  10th,  1781. 

"  Dear  Sir, — The  circumstances  of  Major  Ross's 
situation,  who  commanded  a  party  of  the  enemy, 
amounting  to  six  hundred  and  seven,  rank  and  file,* 
the  loss  of  one-half  of  the  recruits  that  went  from  New- 
York  to  Quebec  in  August  last,  together  with  St. 
Leger's  probable  situation  at  present,  will  greatly  re- 
duce the  enemy's  force  in  Canada,  and,  I  think,  present 
a  fair  opportunity  of  carrying  on  a  winter's  expedition 
into  that  country — at  least  so  far  as  to  reduce  St.  Johns, 
Chambly,  and  Montreal,  and  be  ready  to  proceed  to 
Quebec,  early  in  the  spring. 

"  The  necessary  preparations  for  such  an  expedition 
would  be  but  few,  and  those  not  expensive.  The  chief 
article  would  be  about  five  or  six  hundred  strong  three- 
barred  wood  sleds,  the  cost  of  which  cannot  amount  to 
above  thirty  shillings  each.  These  might  be  built  partly 
at  Fishkill,  and  partly  at  this  place,  and  might  be  used 
either  for  this  expedition,  or  for  one  to  New-York,  or 
both.  Indeed,  I  believe  it  is  the  only  way  to  take  New- 
York,  without  shipping,  as  the  latter  are  generally  ren- 
dered useless  by  the  1st  of  January, — about  which  time 
there  is  generally  favourable  weather  to  go  in  with  sledges 
over  the  ice,  and  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy's  cannon. 
It  will  still  be  time  enough  to  prosecute  the  other,  as 
the  ice  in  some  parts  of  Lake  Champlain  is  seldom 
strong  till  the  first  of  February.  If  any  part  of  this  plan 
should  be  adopted,  there  will  be  no  time  to  lose  in  the 
preparations. 

*  The  party  pursued  by  Willet. 


f>34  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

"  The  propriety  of  the  latter  expedition  cannot,  I 
think,  be  doubted.  The  peace  and  happiness  of  almost 
all  of  the  United  States,  are  deeply  concerned  in  it. 
While  the  British  are  in  possession  of  Canada,  with  free 
access  to  the  Lakes,  they  can  enter  the  rear  of  any  of 
the  States,  from  New  Hampshire  to  Carolina,  whenever 
they  please.  We  shall  be  always  at  their  mercy.  Trea- 
ties of  peace  will  never  secure  us.  Their  command 
of  the  trade  with  the  Indians  will  enable  them  to  distress 
our  frontiers,  break  up  our  back  settlements  whenever 
they  think  proper,  and  lay  the  blame  on  the  Indians. 
It  will  be  a  constant  check  to  the  growth  of  the  States. 
If  we  cannot  get  possession  of  all  Canada,  we  ought  to 
strive  for  Montreal  with  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  at 
least  as  low  as  the  mouth  of  the  river  Sorel.  This,  and 
nothing  less,  will  effectually  exclude  them  from  Lake 
Champlain,  as  well  as  the  great  western  lakes,  which 
are  the  avenues  to  the  rear  of  all  the  future  western 
States. 

"  This  boundary  to  the  possessions  of  the  British, 
would  divide  the  Indian  trade  pretty  equally  among  all 
the  States.  That  of  New  England,  New-York,  and 
New  Jersey,  through  Lakes  Champlain  and  Ontario  ; 
that  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  more  southern  and  western 
States,  through  Lake  Erie  and  the  rivers  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi. It  will,  in  short,  divide  the  fur  trade  with  all 
the  maritime  powers  of  Europe,  which  would  otherwise 
be  engrossed  by  Great  Britain. 

"  If  a  general  peace  should  be  treated  of  this  winter, 
it  will  not  be  concluded  until  the  spring  ;  and  most  prob- 
ably, it  will  be  on  terms  of  possession  at  the  date  of  the 
treaty.  This  is  a  sufficient  inducement  to  push  as  far 
as  we  can  this  winter. 

"  I  am,  &c." 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  235 

No  answer  to  this  letter  appears  from  General  Heath, 
nor  any  other  evidence  of  his  disposition  or  ability  to  co- 
operate in  the  proposed  plan.  The  wisdom  and  foresight 
by  which  it  was  suggested  were,  however,  soon  appa- 
rent ;  and  so  long  as  the  British  retained  possession  of  the 
chain  of  posts  on  our  northern  and  western  frontiers, 
— which  they  continued  to  hold  until  their  surrender 
under  the  treaty  of  1794, — so  long  were  our  settlements 
on  those  frontiers  literally  "  at  their  mercy."  Until  then, 
they  were  enabled  to  engross  the  whole  Indian  trade,  as, 
by  the  possession  of  Canada,  they  still  monopolize  the 
most  valuable  portions  of  it  even  within  our  own  terri- 
tory. 

M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Lieut.  Colonel  Willet. 

"Head-quarters,  Albany,  November  12th,  1781. 

"  Sir, — It  is  with  pleasure  1  forward  you  the  enclosed 
copy  of  General  Orders.  I  am  happy  that  my  opinion 
of  your  conduct  is  supported  by  that  of  my  superior  offi- 
cer. The  representation  given  him  of  your  proceedings 
was  as  full  and  explicit  as  possible,  which  the  General 
informs  me  he  has  transmitted  to  Congress. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Brigadier  General  Stark. 

"Head-quarters,  Albany,  November  12th,  1781. 

"  Sir, — 1  have  within  this  hour  received  a  pacquet 
from  Colonel  St.  Leger,  in  answer  to  the  letter  I  wrote  to 
him  by  Captain  Carr.  It  must  have  come  through  you. 
It  surprises  me  not  a  little  that  it  was  not  accompanied 
by  a  line  from  you  enclosing  Captain  Carr's  report  as 
to  where  he  received  the  letter  from  Colonel  St.  Leger, 
with  other  circumstances  which  1  think  he  must  have 


•236  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

thought  it  his  duty  to  inform  me  of.  I  desire,  sir,  you 
will  direct  Captain  Carr  to  come  to  me  immediately.  I 
must  also  desire  you,  sir,  to  transmit  to  me  copies  of  all 
intelligence  you  have  received  since  I  left  you. 

"  I  am  &c." 

Brigadier  General  Stark  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Head-quarters,  Saratoga,  November  13th,  1781. 

"  My  Lord, — Your  letter  of  yesterday,  is  just  now 
delivered  to  me.  1  shall  order  Captain  Carr  to  attend 
you  as  soon  as  possible.  He  found  the  enemy  encamp- 
ed at  Chimney  Point.  On  coming  in  sight  of  them,  he 
was  met  by  Lieutenant  Hamilton  of  the  34th,  aid 
to  St.  Leger,  and  ordered  into  a  creek  this  side  of  Crown 
Point.  A  subaltern  and  twenty  men  were  placed  as  a 
guard  over  him  ;  and  at  day- break  the  next  morning 
after  his  arrival,  he  was  dismissed.  He  saw  no  officer, 
except  Lieutenant  Hamilton,  and  the  officer  of  the 
guard,  nor  could  he  make  any  satisfactory  discovery  of 
their  numbers  ;  but  by  some  indirect  hints  of  the  officer, 
he  suggests  that  a  south  wind  wrould  be  very  agreeable. 
They  informed  him  that  the  cause  of  their  coming  was 
to  draw  the  force  of  the  country  this  way,  and  by 
that  means  save  Cornwallis.  You  may  place  as  much 
confidence  in  this  report  as  it  deserves  ;  for  my  part,  I 
think  it  a  slender  veil  to  cover  their  real  design.  Cap- 
tain Carr  can  possibly  give  you  a  more  satisfactory  ac- 
count of  the  matter  than  my  paper  will  admit  me  to  do. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  following  letter  to  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
contains  a  summary  of  the  operations  detailed  in  the 
preceding  correspondence,  and  fills  up  the  chasms  which 
occur  in  it. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  237 

M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  General  Washington. 

"Rhynbeck,*  November  26th,  1781. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  most  heartily  congratulate  your  Ex- 
cellency on  the  glorious  victory  you  have  obtained  over 
the  British  arms  on  the  19th  of  October,  at  York  and 
Gloucester  in  Virginia,  an  event,  important  in  the  affairs 
of  Europe,  as  well  as  of  America.  It  will  weigh  heavy 
in  the  scale  of  negotiation,  and  1  hope,  secure  peace  to 
the  latter,  on  the  principles  of  independency  and  honour, 
with  permanent  advantages  to  our  generous  and  illus- 
trious allies.  I  should  have  had  the  honour  of  express- 
ing to  your  Excellency  the  joy  I  feel  on  this  occasion, 
much  sooner,  had  I  not  been  engaged  on  the  northern 
frontier, — whence  I  am  just  returned. 

"  After  repeated  intelligence  had  been  received  that 
the  enemy  were  on  their  way  from  Canada,  in  order 
to  invade  the  frontiers  of  this  State,  I  had  the  honour,  on 
the  15th  of  October,  to  take  command  of  the  forces  in 
this  quarter.  On  my  arrival  at  Albany,  I  found  the  in- 
telligence of  the  enemy's  having  landed  on  the  south 
side  of  Lake  George — on  which  the  militia  had  been 
called  out — was  premature.  I  therefore  dismissed  the 
militia,  with  thanks  for  their  alertness  in  turning  out  so 
universally.  The  enemy,  however,  was  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  on  Bull's  Bay,  beyond  Crown  Point.  From  this 
position,  I  was  suspicious  that  they  meant  to  send  a  light 
party  by  Jessup's  patent  down  the  north  branch  of  the 
Hudson  to  Sacondaga,  and  then  to  fall  on  the  Mohawk 
river  by  Johnstown,  or  to  surprise  Schenectada.  The 
passes  on    this  route   were    immediately  guarded,  and 

*  The  residence  of  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Duer,  in  Duchess  County,  N.  Y. 


233  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

Colonel  Willet  desired  to  look  well  to  the  westward,  as  1 
had  intelligence  that  six  hundred  of  the  enemy  had  pro- 
ceeded from  Montreal,  by  the  St.  Lawrence,  towards 
Lake  Ontario. 

"  The  22nd,  at  night,  I  received  information  that  the 
enemy  had  advanced  to  Crown  Point.  The  next  day, 
the  New  Hampshire  brigade  moved  towards  Saratoga. 
On  the  24th,  I  was  informed  that  the  enemy  had  ar- 
rived at  Ticonderoga,  and  were  moving  their  boats 
over  the  carrying  place,  into  Lake  George.  The  militia 
were  directed  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march 
on  the  shortest  notice.  On  the  25th,  at  noon,  I  received 
intelligence  that  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  were  within 
eight  miles  of  Schenectada,  burning  and  destroying  the 
country.  I  immediately  ordered  the  militia  nearest  at 
hand  to  move  that  way  under  General  Gansevoort,  and 
sent  off  sixty  volunteers  mounted  on  horseback,  and  about 
thirty  continentals  of  different  corps,  and  despatched  an 
aid  to  Colonel  Tupper,  then  on  the  road  to  Saratoga, 
with  orders  to  move  towards  Schenectada,  by  the  north 
bank  of  the  Mohawk.  On  the  morning  of  the  z6th, 
intelligence  was  brought  that  Colonel  Willet  had  met 
with  the  enemy,  engaged  them,  and  was  defeated  and 
surrounded  at  Johnstown.  I  ordered  more  militia  to  the 
westward,  and  directed  Colonel  Tupper  to  move  towards 
Johnstown,  intending  myself  to  proceed  to  the  vicinity 
of  that  place.  I  received  various  accounts  of  Willet, 
during  the  day,  and  learnt  from  General  Stark  that  the 
enemy  were  certainly  advancing  by  Lake  George,  and 
that  he  expected  to  be  attacked  in  twenty-four  hours. 
He  called  for  the  militia  to  fly  to  his  assistance  ;  the 
whole  of  them  not  employed  to  the  westward  were  then 
ordered  to  move  towards  Saratoga  as  briskly  as  possible. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  239 

"  On  the  27th,  in  the   morning,  I   received  advice 
that  Colonel  Willet  had  indeed  fought  the  enemy,  but 
with   advantage, — had  taken  forty  prisoners,   and   had 
gone  on  in  pursuit.     This  appears  to  have  been  a  party 
of  six  hundred   and   seven  rank   and   file,   partly  from 
Niagara,  and  partly  from  Buck's  Island,  that  rendezvoused 
at  Oswego,  about  the  8th  of  October,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Major  Ross,  and  thence  proceeded  to  the  S.  E. 
point  of  Lake  Oneida,  where  they  left  their  boats,  and 
went  on   by   the   head   branches  of  the   Susquehanna, 
through  Cherry  Valley;  crossed  the  Schoharie,  fell  upon 
Warren's  bush,  burnt   about   twenty  houses  and  barns, 
then  crossed  the  Mohawk,  near  Fort  Hunter,  and  pro- 
ceeded  to  Johnstown,  where,  about   half  an  hour  after 
their  arrival  they  were  attacked  by  Willet  with  about 
five  hundred   men,  who,  after  a  variety  of  fortune,  beat 
the  enemy  off  the   ground.     They  retired   in  the  dark 
some  miles.     Willet  followed  them  in  the  morning,  and 
kept  up  the  pursuit  several  days,  during  which  he   had 
several  skirmishes  with  them  with  some  advantage.     He 
left  them  about  twenty  miles  north  of  the  Oneida  Lake, 
in  a  miserable  situation  without  provisions,  and  an  eight 
days'  march  before  them.     It  became  prudent  for  Willet 
to  proceed  no  further.     He  has  done,  I   believe,  every 
thing  a  man  could  do  in   his   situation ;  and  has   great 
merit.     Upon  the  whole,  Mr.  Ross  has  made  a  bad  ex- 
pedition of  it, — his  loss  being  at  least  one  hundred  and 
fifty,   in    prisoners,   killed,    and    deserters,   besides    the 
wounded,  whom   they  contrived  to  carry  off.     Among 
their  killed  was  their  partisan  Walter  Butler,  and  a  Brit- 
ish Captain  of  the  28th. 

"  The  intelligence   from  the    northward  convinced 
me  that  the  enemy  was  not  so  near  at  hand  as  was  ap- 


240  THE  L1FE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

prehended  ;  yet  I  kept  moving  the  militia  upwards, 
ordering  part  to  halt  at  Stillwater,  and  determined  to  go 
up  to  Saratoga,  to  reduce  the  position  and  strength  of 
the  enemy  to  some  certainty.  Accordingly,  on  the  30th 
I  rode  up  to  Saratoga, in  company  with  General  Schuyler; 
and  soon  after  our  arrival  there,  ordered  out  four  scout- 
ing parties  to  different  parts  of  Lake  George.  A  Cap- 
tain Gray  had  that  day  reported  to  General  Stark  that 
the  enemy's  gunboats  had  approached  so  near  the  south 
shore  of  the  Lake  as  to  throw  shot  over  his  head.  Other 
intelligence  had  been  received  from  General  Enos  at 
Castletown,  and  Colonel  Walbridge  at  Skenesborough, 
that  about  five  hundred  of  the  enemy  were  employed  in 
covering  some  of  the  old  works  at  Ticonderoga,  and 
drawing  up  heavy  cannon  to  the  works, — the  rest  pro- 
ceeding by  Lake  George. 

"  On  the  31st  I  reconnoitred  the  grounds,  in  order 
to  erect  some  works  to  cover  the  troops  that  may  be 
posted  here  for  the  winter.  At  noon  intelligence  came 
from  General  Enos  that  the  enemy  were  all  on  Lake 
George,  advancing  under  the  command  of  General  St. 
Leger — their  strength  three  thousand.  I  thereupon 
ordered  General  Enos  to  move  to  Fort  Anne,  and  the 
militia  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson,  with  those  of  the 
lower  part  of  Vermont,  to  assemble  at  Battenkill.  I 
also  wrote  to  General  Gansevoort  to  bring  up  the  militia 
not  yet  come  forward.  I  then  formed  the  orders  of  bat- 
tle and  march,  intending  to  meet  the  enemy  in  the  act 
of  crossing  the  Hudson,  should  they  attempt  it. 

"  On  the  1st  of  November,  we  received  the  glorious 
news  of  the  surrender  of  the  army  under  the  com- 
mand of  Earl  Cornwallis  to  your  Excellency,  which  was 
announced  at  noon  by  thirteen  cannon,  adding  one  in 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  24  1 

compliment  to  our  friends  in  Vermont,  who  were  co- 
operating with  us  against  the  common  enemy.  On  the 
2nd,  I  ordered  two  commissioned  officers,  with  small 
scouting  parties,  to  reconnoitre  Lake  George,  and  go  as 
far  as  they  could  with  safety,  and  until  they  could  dis- 
cover the  situation  of  the  enemy.  I  thought  it  necessary 
at  this  time  to  send  Captain  Carr  with  a  flag  to  Colonel 
St.  Leger.  My  letter  to  him  with  his  answer  are  en- 
closed. In  the  evening,  Captain  Wright,  another  of 
my  scouts,  reported  that  he  had  been  down  the  Lake 
below  the  Narrows,  and  could  discover  no  signs  of  the 
enemy.  This  was  confirmed  by  another  scout,  which 
arrived  soon  after.  I  therefore  ordered  the  Generals 
and  officers  commanding  brigades,  to  meet  me  at  eleven 
o'clock  the  next  day,  when,  finding  the  Council  unani- 
mously of  opinion  with  me,  that  the  enemy  had  retired, 
and  considering  that,  from  the  severity  of  the  season, 
and  the  height  of  the  waters  from  the  late  heavy  rains, 
it  would  be  impossible  for  them  suddenly  to  return,  1 
ordered  the  militia  to  be  dismissed  with  my  thanks. 

"  On  the  4th  I  returned  to  Albany;  and  during  my 
stay  there  I  received  full  and  satisfactory  evidence  that 
the  enemy  had  retired  in  good  earnest.  The  last  account 
placed  them  at  Chimney  Point,  opposite  to  Crown  Point, 
on  the  8th  instant,  where  they  had  been  several  days 
waiting  for  a  favourable  wind,  and  where,  I  think  it  not 
improbable,  they  are  still ;  for  the  winds  have  been  ad- 
verse, and  the  weather  severely  cold  ;  the  tops  of  the 
mountains  now  in  view  are  white  with  snow,  and  the 
air  piercingly  cold.  They  must  feel  it  more  severely 
where  they  are. 

"  The  letters  I  have  written  from  time  to  time,  to 
General  Heath,  I  doubt  not  have  been  communicated  to 

16 


242 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 


your  Excellency,  but  I  think  it  my  duty  to  give  you  this 
detail,  that  you  may  have  a  more  distinct  idea  of  affairs 
in  the  quarter  where  I  had  the  honour  to  command.  I 
shall  proceed  to-morrow  in  order  to  join  General  Heath. 

"1  am,&c."* 


*  The  Tories  in  Wittemberg,  a  Ger- 
man settlement  near  Rhynbeck,  were 
apprised  of  this  visit  of  Lord  Stirling's, 
by  their  friends  on  the  Mohawk,  and  a 
plan  was  concerted  between  them  for 
his  capture,  which  was  defeated  by  the 
fidelity  of  a  female  servant  in  the  family 
of  Colonel  Duer,  whose  parents  lived  in 
Wittemberg.  She  had  spent  the  day 
at  home,  and  on  her  return  in  the 
evening,  communicated  to  her  mistress 
a  conversation  she  had  overheard  in  re- 


lation to  the  plot  ;  whereupon  such 
measures  were  taken  as  prevented  its 
execution.  The  dragoons,  who  had 
accompanied  Lord  S.  from  Albany,  as 
a  guard,  were  brought  into  the  house, 
and  loop-holes  were  made  in  the  walls  ; 
the  windows  and  doors  were  barricado- 
ed,  the  male  inmates  were  armed  and 
stationed,  and  when  at  night  the  enemy 
made  their  appearance,  they  were  re- 
ceived with  a  volley,  which  dispersed 
them. 


C  H  A  P  T  E  R    X . 

1731-1783. 

The  remainder  of  the  autumn,  and  the  earlier  part 
of  the  ensuing  winter,  were  spent  by  Lord  Stirling  in 
New  Jersey;  where  he  held  the  military  command,  al- 
though residing  at  his  place  at  Baskenridge.  During; 
this  interval,  he  received  a  letter,  of  which  the  following 
is  the  translation,  from  a  member  of  that  branch  of  his 
family,  which,  at  the  expulsion  of  James  the  Second 
from  the  British  throne,  had  followed  the  royal  exile  into 
France,  and  become  naturalized  in  that  country. 

The  Count  Alexandre  (PHanache  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

-Chateau  de  Pauleen,  November   30th,  1781. 

"  My  Lord, — I  embrace  wTith  great  pleasure  the 
opportunity  afforded  by  the  departure  of  my  brother-in- 
law,  Count  De  la  Croix,  Captain  of  the  Cleopatra  frig- 
ate, to  inquire  after  you,  and  to  congratulate  you  on  the 
taking  of  York  and  Gloucester,  with  the  garrison  of  six 
thousand  men  under  Lord  Cornwallis.  This  great  ad- 
vantage, my  Lord,  together  with  that  gained  by  Count 
De  Grasse  over  Admiral  Graves,  is  the  harbinger  of 
peace  ; — the  more  certainly  so,  as  England  has  been 
equally  unfortunate  both  in  Europe  and  the  East  Indies. 


•244  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

I  think  that  nation  must  at  length  be  forced  to  sue  for 
peace,  on  such  conditions  as  the  belligerent  powers  op- 
posed to  her  may  dictate.  The  independence  of  Amer- 
ica will  doubtless  be  the  first  clause  of  the  treaty,  and 
the  wisdom  of  your  government  will  soon  restore  that 
abundance  and  prosperity  which  must  necessarily  have 
disappeared  under  the  calamities  of  war. 

"  It  is  with  great  pleasure,  my  Lord,  that  I  learn  any 
thing  which  contributes  to  your  happiness,  and  I  shall 
be  extremely  anxious  to  keep  up  a  correspondence  which 
has  been  interrupted  by  the  events  of  war.  I  am  igno- 
rant, my  Lord,  whether  you  received  the  letter  in  which 
I  announced  to  you  the  death  of  my  father,  Command- 
ant at  Gonaives,  in  St.  Domingo.  I  delivered  myself, 
to  Dr.  Franklin,  some  years  since,  a  letter  for  you, 
which  he  promised  me  to  forward  with  his  despatches, 
— probably  it  never  reached  you. 

"  I  married,  about  two  years  since,  a  young  widow 
of  this  province  (Mauze),  whom  I  hope  to  present  to 
you  in  a  few  years,  as  I  intend  to  take  New  England  in 
my  way  to  my  plantation  in  St.  Domingo.  The  strong 
desire  I  have,  my  Lord,  to  make  your  acquaintance,  will 
induce  me  to  take  this  route,  though  somewhat  the 
longest. 

"The  Chevalier  L'Etanduerre,  my  brother-in-law, 
Lieutenant  of  the  armed  vessel  the  Hercules,  of  Count 
De  Grasse's  squadron,  writes  me  from  the  Chesapeake, 
under  the  date  of  the  22nd  of  October,  informing  me 
of  the  success  of  the  French  troops,  joined  to  those  of 
America.  He  would  assuredly  have  been  the  bearer  of 
a  letter  to  you,  my  Lord,  had  I  known  his  destination 
when  he  left  France.  But  as  his  profession  will  un- 
doubtedly bring  him   again  to  New  England,  I    have 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  245 

written  to  desire  him  to  present  himself  to  you,  and 
shall  be  much  obliged  by  any  good  offices  to  him  in  your 
power. 

"  I  live  on  an  estate  of  my  wife's,  near  the  ports  of 
Rochefort  and  Rochelle.  If  I  can  be  of  any  service  to 
you  here,  or  in  any  other  of  the  Provinces  of  the  King- 
dom, I  beg  you  to  command  me  with  freedom  ;  and  be 
assured  that  I  shall  be  happy  in  having  an  opportunity 
of  proving  the  sentiments  of  esteem  and  most  perfect 
attachment  with  which 

"I  am,  &c." 

In  January,  1782,  Lord  Stirling  repaired  to  Phila- 
delphia, which  was  within  his  military  department,  and 
where  he  established  his  head-quarters  for  the  wrinter. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival  he  received  the  following  : 


Colonel  David  Brearly  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

<•  Trenton,  January  11th,  1782. 

"  My  Lord, — I  despatched  the  Sheriff  of  Burlington 
down  to  Egg-harbour,  who  returned  yesterday,  and  in- 
forms me  that  the  enemy  have  not  made  any  fortifica- 
tions on  Osborne's  Island,  as  was  supposed  ;  but  that 
there  are  a  considerable  body  of  armed  boats  which  ply 
constantly  between  Egg-harbour  and  New-York, — some 
of  which  are  always  at  Egg-harbour,  in  order  to  carry 
on  a  trade  with  the  disaffected  inhabitants,  (for  they  are 
chiefly  so  there,)  and  also  to  carry  off  deserters  and 
others  who  choose  to  go  to  New-York.  Colonel  Law- 
rence of  Monmouth  was  down  at  the  same  time,  with  a 
party  of  Militia  ;  and  on  his  approach  the  enemy,  who 
were  in  the  village,  at  the  Meeting-house,  fled  over  the 


246  THE  LIFE  °F  LORD  STIRLING. 

beach,  where,  by  means  of  their  boats,  they  were  in  a 
state  of  perfect  security. 

"  Unless  these  fellows  are  routed,  all  the  sea-coast  for 
many  miles  must  be  given  up  to  the  enemy  ;  yet  I  know 
of  no  possible  means  of  accomplishing  it,  but  by  send- 
ing a  superior  force  by  water,  so  as  to  cut  off  their  retreat 
to  New-York.  If  this  could  be  effected,  they  might  then 
very  easily  be  demolished. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Governor  Livingston  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

<:  Trenton.  January  11th,  17S2. 

"  My  Lord, — Before  the  receipt  of  your  Lordship's 
letter  of  the  6th  instant,  I  had  sent  an  express  with  let- 
ters to  three  gentlemen  of  note  in  a  certain  part  of  the 
country,  for  the  information  we  want.  The  messenger 
has  not  returned  ;  nor  do  I  expect  so  precise  an  answer 
to  my  queries  when  he  does  return,  as  Colonel  Law- 
rence, who  takes  the  trouble  of  this,  is  able  to  give  you. 
He  is  not  only  well  acquainted  with  the  state  of  things 
in  that  quarter,  from  general  information,  but  has  very 
recently  been  on  the  spot  with  the  command  of  a  party 
of  militia  to  dislodge  the  enemy.  He  is  a  member  of 
our  Council ;  and,  as  the  greatest  confidence  may  be  re- 
posed in  him,  1  have  taken  the  liberty  of  communicating 
to  him  the  intended  operations;  and  now  recommend 
him  to  your  Lordship's  notice,  not  only  for  the  informa- 
tion I  think  him  capable  of  giving,  but  as  a  gentleman 
whom,  from  his  amiable  character,  you  will  be  natu- 
rally disposed  to  treat  with  that  attention  to  which  his 
merit  and  station  entitle  him. 

"  I  am  obliged  to  your  lordship  for  your  kind  offer  of 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  247 

forwarding  any  of  my  despatches  to  France  or  Spain.* 
I  have  a  few  days  since  confided  my  letters  to  my  cor- 
respondents in  the  latter  kingdom  to  Kitty  ;f  and  sup- 
pose they  will  be  conveyed  by  the  same  opportunity 
which  your  Lordship  has  in  your  eye. 

"  The  enemy,  with  about  three  hundred  men — a 
motley  of  British  and  refugees — have  made  an  irruption 
into  the  city  of  Brunswick  by  water  ;  have  captured 
Heyler's  gun-boat — one  of  the  first-rates  of  New  Jer- 
sey— and  three  whale-boats  ; — plundered  two  houses — 
carried  off  about  five  or  six  prisoners — some  of  them, 
probably,  volunteers — and  wounded  five  or  six  men.  By 
the  extreme  darkness  of  the  night,  the  impossibility  of 
collecting  an  adequate  force  to  oppose  them,  and  the 
shortness  of  the  notice  of  their  coming,  they  could  not  be 
repelled,  nor  prevented  from  executing  the  object  of 
their  enterprise ;  but  the  few  men  that  could  be  col- 
lected, behaved  with  great  bravery,  or  in  the  language 
of  General  Burgoyne,  '  to  a  charm.' 

"  I  am,  &.c." 

In  the  spring  following,  Lord  Stirling,  Brigadier 
General  Hand,  Adjutant  General  of  the  American  army, 
and  Colonel  Nichola  of  the  corps  of  Invalids,  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  Commander-in-Chief  a  Board  to  settle 
the  rank  of  the  subalterns  of  the  Connecticut  line,  and 
for  that  purpose  he  repaired  to  Fishkill,  in  the  State  of 
New- York,  where  those  troops  were  encamped.  Whilst 
engaged  in  this  duty,  Lord  Stirling  received  the  follow- 


*  His    daughter,  Mrs.  Jay,  had    ac-  Justice    of  the    Supreme    Court  of  the 

companied  her  husband  on  his  missions  U.  S.  was  attached  to  the  legation, 

to  those  countries  ;  and  his  son,  the  late  t  Lady  Catharine  Duer,  the   daugh- 

Brockholst     Livingston,    an     Associate  ter  of  Lord  S.  and  niece  of  Governor  L. 


248  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

ing  letter,  giving  an  account  of  the   first  indications  of 
the  abandonment  of  the  contest  by  the  British. 

Major  General  Heath  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"Highlands,  June  28th,  1782. 

"  My  Lord, — I  am  this  moment  honoured  with  yours 
of  the  27th.  My  barge  shall  attend  you  at  head  quar- 
ters on  Sunday  morning,  in  hopes  of  the  honour  of  a 
visit  from  your  Lordship. 

"  At  two  o'clock  this  morning  I  received  a  letter  from 
Colonel  Greaton,  commanding  at  Dobbs's  Ferry,  cover- 
ing one  from  Major  Goetshius  of  the  militia,  containing 
intelligence  that  a  Captain  of  militia  left  Newark  the 
day  before  yesterday,  and  brought  an  account  that  the 
enemy  had  evacuated  Staten  Island,  and  destroyed  all 
their  works.  Colonel  Greaton  adds  that  he  had  heard 
a  firing  of  cannon  the  most  part  of  yesterday,  and  that 
he  had  heard  that  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  had  come 
off  Staten  Island,  and  begged  that  they  might  not  be 
plundered.  If  this  account  be  true,  an  evacuation  of 
New- York  will  follow. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

To  two  young  officers  of  distinguished  merit  about  to 
visit  Europe,  Lord  Stirling  gave  the  following  letter  of 
introduction  : — 

M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Lieut.  Gen.  the  Marquis 
de  Bouille* 

"  Head-Q,uarters,  Fishkill,  N.  Y.,  June  25th,  1782. 

"  My  Dear  Marquis, — I  need  not  apologize  for  in- 
troducing to  your  Lordship  two  brave  and  virtuous  men, 

*  A  French  General  of  celebrity,  com-  of  La  Fayette,  but  opposed  the  Revolu- 
manding  the  land  forces  at  the  siege  of  lion,  emigrated  to  England,  and  died  in 
Gibraltar.     He  was  the   brother-in-law     London  in  1800. 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  249 

who  feel  an  ardent  desire  to  serve  their  country  and  its 
friends  in  a  righteous  cause  :  jour  established  character 
makes  you  the  friend  of  such  men.  Lieutenant  Colo- 
nel Smith*  and  Major  Clarksonf — two  gentlemen  very 
dear  to  me — who  have  served  in  the  armies  of  America 
every  campaign  since  the  present  contest  with  Great 
Britain  begun,  are  apprehensive  that  the  present  cam- 
paign on  this  continent  will  be  rather  inactive — at  least, 
until  late  in  the  season — they  therefore  seek  for  a  more 
active  scene  in  the  combined  armies  of  France  and  Spain 
under  your  command.  Give  me  leave  to  recommend 
them  to  your  countenance  and  friendship. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

After  performing  the  duties  assigned  to  the  Board  of 
Officers  at  which  he  presided,  Lord  Stirling  was  once 
more  ordered  to  his  former  command  of  the  Northern  de- 
partment, and  again  established  his  head  quarters  at 
Albany.  Among  his  correspondence  at  this  period,  is  a 
letter  from  a  late  President  of  the  United  States,  who 
had  formerly  been  attached  to  his  military  family  as  an 
aid-de-camp. 

*  William   Stephens  Smith,  the  son-  persons  could   have   afforded  a  stronger 

in-law  of  the  elder  President  Adams,  and  contrast  of  character  and  manners  than 

afterwards  a  Colonel   in  the  provisional  these  two  gentlemen.     The  one  was  as 

army  of  1798.  remarkable    for   his   imposing   military 

t    Matthew    Clarkson.  who    after  the  appearance  and  pompous  bearing,  as  the 

war    commanded    the  first   Division   of  other  for   his  modest,  unassuming   and 

the  New- York  militia — was  a  member  ■  miable     deportment.     In     the    French 

of  the   State  Senate,  and  as  much  dis-  camp,  the  one  probably  passed  for  much 

tinguished  for  his   private  worth   as  for  more  than  he  was  worth,  while  the  other 

his  public    services.      Perhaps    no    two  was  not  estimated  at  half  his  value. 


•250  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  James  Monroe  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of 

Stirling. 

"  Richmond,  Sept,  10th3  1782. 

u  My  Lord, — I  have  such  confidence  in  your  Lord- 
ship's friendship  and  candour,  as  to  be  convinced  that, 
although  I  have  merited  in  some  degree  jour  displeasure 
by  not  writing  to  you  and  informing  myself  sooner  of 
your  health  and  welfare,  that  an  acknowledgment  of  my 
fault,  and  a  promise  to  be  guilty  of  the  like  no  more, 
will  make  a  sufficient  atonement.  Had  I  not  been  able 
to  hear  of  your  Lordship  by  almost  every  passenger,  and 
to  be  informed  of  every  even  the  minutest  circumstance 
respecting  you,  which  my  attachment  to  your  interest, 
and  welfare  would  prompt  me  to  make  inquiry,  I  should 
not  so  readily  expect  your  forgiveness.  Believe  me,  I 
have  always  been  happy  to  hear  from  you,  and  have 
never  failed  to  seize  an  opportunity  that  would  give  me 
that  pleasure. 

"  For  my  part,  till  very  lately,  I  have  been  a  re- 
cluse ;  chagrined  with  my  disappointment  with  the 
State  in  not  attaining  the  rank  and  command  I  sought, 
— chagrined  with  some  disappointments  in  a  private  line, 
I  retired  from  society  with  almost  a  resolution  never  to 
enter  it  again.  Being  fond  of  study,  I  submitted  the 
direction  of  my  time  and  plan  to  my  friend  Mr.  Jeffer- 
son— one  of  our  wisest  and  most  virtuous  republicans — 
and  aided  by  his  advice,  I  have  hitherto  of  late  lived. 
Lately  I  have  taken  a  part  in  the  civil  line  of  the  State, 
and  have  been  elected  to  the  Legislature — and  afterwards 
by  the  Legislature  into  the  Executive  Council  of  the 
State,  which  last  office  I  at  present  fill. 

"  I  am  happy  to  make  my  acknowledgments  to  your 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  25  J 

Lordship,  and  his  Excellency  General  Washington,  for 
jour  and  his  friendly  letters  to  this  State  in  favour  of  my 
conduct  while  an  aid  in  your  family,  without  which  I 
could  not  have  expected,  among  so  many  competitors, 
at  my  age,  to  have  attained,  in  this  degree,  the  confi- 
dence of  my  countrymen.  I  cannot  forget  your  Lord- 
ship's kindness  to  me  on  this  and  many  other  occasions, 
and,  believe  me,  it  is  one  of  those  circumstances  of  my 
life  which  I  frequently  recur  to  with  the  greatest  plea- 
sure. 

"  I  am  to  require  of  your  Lordship  to  make  my  re- 
spects to  your  Lady  and  family,  and  to  assure  them  that 
they  have  my  sincerest  wishes  for  their  health  and  wel- 
fare. Nothing  would  give  me  more  pleasure  than  to 
hear  severally  of  their  happiness.  1  shall,  in  future, 
take  the  liberty  of  writing  to  your  Lordship,  as  opportu- 
nity may  present,  so  soon  as  I  have  your  permission, 
with  a  forgiveness  of  my  former  neglect.  I  shall  be 
happy  to  hear  from  you  as  soon  as  possible,  and 

"Am,  &c." 

Upon  resuming  his  command  at  Albany,  Lord  Stir- 
ling's official  correspondence  commenced  with  the  fol- 
lowing letter  from  the  officer  who  had  succeeded  General 
Stark  in  the  command  at  Saratoga. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Henry  Dearborn*  to  M.  G.  the  Earl 

of  Stirling. 

';  Garrison,  Saratoga,  Sept.  20th,  1782. 

"  My  Lord, — I  find  in  your  Lordship's  orders  of  the 
14th  instant   1  am  severely  reprimanded   for  deviating 

*  Secretary  at  war  under   Mr.  Jefferson,  and  Major  General  and  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  arm}'  in  1812. 


252  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

from  the  general  orders  of  the  7th  of  August  last.  I 
conceive  your  Lordship  must  have  been  misinformed 
respecting  the  matter.  The  stars  on  the  breasts  of  the 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  of  the  1st  New 
Hampshire  regiment  were  put  on  previous  to  the  publi- 
cation of  the  general  orders  of  the  7th  of  August  respect- 
ing badges.  I  complied  with  them,  but  did  not  take  off 
those  I  had  put  on.  In  that,  perhaps,  I  was  wrong.  1 
wish,  and,  I  believe  I  do,  pay  as  strict  attention  to  or- 
ders as  any  officer  whatever,  and  am  exceeding  sorry 
that  any  part  of  my  conduct  has  been  such  as  to  give 
your  Lordship  reason  to  censure  me. 

"  1  see  in  your  Lordship's  orders  of  the  17th  instant, 
all  men  who  are  deserters  from  the  British  army  are  forbid 
to  suttle  or  remain  with  the  troops  at  any  of  the  posts 
in  this  department.  I  had  heretofore  supposed  that  the 
commanding  officer  of  a  regiment,  when  detached  with 
his  regiment,  and  commanding  a  post  or  garrison,  had  a 
right  to  license  a  suttler  for  the  post,  if  he  found  one 
necessary  or  convenient,  and,  on  that  principle,  have 
licensed  one  for  this  post.  He  has  acted  in  that  char- 
acter for  some  time  past  by  General  Stark's  license,  and 
other  commanding  officers.  This  man,  I  suppose,  is  a 
deserter  from  the  British  army  ;  but  he  has  a  family  in 
Albany,  and  is  a  very  sober,  steady,  inoffensive  man. 
His  having  been  here  for  a  considerable  time,  and  having 
furnished  the  officers  with  articles  to  a  considerable 
amount  more  than  they  can  pay  for  at  present,  and  hav- 
ing contracted  to  furnish  the  officers  of  the  garrison  with 
liquors  and  other  conveniences,  for  the  present  month, 
to  the  amount  of  what  may  be  due  to  them,  his  going 
from  this  post  immediately  will  be  very  disagreeable  to 
the  officers,  and  detrimental  to  him.     If  your  Lordship 


THE  LIFE  OP  LORD  STIRLING.  253 

will  please  to  consent  to  his  remaining  here  until  the 
officers  can  have  time  to  settle  with  him,  it  will  very 
much  oblige  them. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Dearborn  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Garrison,  Saratoga,  September  30th.  1782. 

"  My  Lord, — Agreeable  to  directions  received  from 
your  Lordship,  through  Captain  Sill,  I  have  taken  vari- 
ous measures  for  procuring  intelligence  from  Canada,  but 
I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  any  of  consequence.  I 
have  had  repeated  scouts  to  Crown  Point,  with  directions 
to  take  every  measure  in  their  power  to  take  a  prisoner, 
or  more  if  possible.  But  the  enemy  have  kept  their 
uien  so  close  on  board  their  vessels,  that  we  have  not 
been  able  to  take  any.  My  scouts  have  been  very  fre- 
quently at  different  parts  of  Lake  George, — at  Ticon- 
deroga,  and  all  the  other  different  communications  from 
Crown  Point  to  this  garrison,  but  have  made  no  dis- 
coveries of  any  party,  or  signs  of  any,  since  the  one  that 
crossed  Lake  George  about  the  10th  of  August,  whose 
boat  a  scout  of  mine  secured. 

"  A  man  by  the  name  of  Carpenter,  who  was  taken 
by  the  enemy  near  Fort  Schuyler,  in  the  fall  of  1780, 
arrived  here  this  day  from  Canada.  He  says  he  made 
his  escape  from  an  Island  above  Montreal,  in  company 
with  eight  others,  on  the  13th  instant, — four  of  them 
arrived  in  the  neighbourhood  of  this  garrison  with  him. 
He  appears  to  know  very  little  of  the  circumstances  of 
matters  in  that  quarter.  About  two  months  ago,  he  saw 
a  body  of  troops  moving  up  the  river ;  and  he  was  told 
an  expedition  was  intended  against  some  part  of  the 
Mohawk  River ;  but  he  has  heard  nothing  of  the  matter 


254  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

since.  He  was  told  Great  Britain  and  America  were 
reconciled,  and  had  agreed  to  unite  their  forces  against 
France.  He  heard  nothing  respecting  the  Indians  lately ; 
nor  of  any  movements  this  way.  He  left  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  at  the  place  he  escaped  from, 
and  in  a  very  distressed  situation, — being  almost  en- 
tirely destitute  of  every  article  of  clothing,  and  no  pros- 
pect of  relief,  except  they  engaged  in  the  enemy's  service. 
It  seems  a  pity  those  poor  fellows  should  be  neglected, 
when  it  must  be  in  the  power  of  the  Commissary  of 
prisoners  to  exchange  them. 

"  I  should  be  greatly  obliged  to  your  Lordship  for 
giving  me  as  early  information  as  the  good  of  the  service 
will  admit  of,  respecting  the  destination  of  my  regiment 
this  winter.  If  we  are  to  remain  at  this  place,  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  boards  and  other  materials,  for  re- 
pairing the  barracks,  will  be  absolutely  necessary,  for 
which  I  shall  make  application  the  moment  I  know 
my  regiment,  or  any  other,  is  to  winter  here. 

"lam,  &c." 

John  Sullivan,  Esq.*  to  M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling 

<:  Keenc,  N.  H..  October  4th.  1782. 

"  My  Lord, — I  take  the  liberty  of  informing  your 
Lordship  that  last  evening  arrived  in  this  town,  one 
Captain  Snyder,  who  was  taken  near  Esopus,  about 
three  years  since,  and  escaped  from  his  confinement  near 
Montreal  on  the  10th  of  last  month.  He  informed  me 
that  the  British  army  were  encamped  at  Isle-aux-Noix,  on 
their  way  to  Albany  ;  that  their   numbers  consisted  of 

*  The  former  Major  General  in  the  Continental  service,  now  a  member  of 
the  civil  government  of  New  Hampshire. 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  $>55 

four  thousand,  principally  German  troops ;  that  the 
Indians  under  Johnson  were  to  move  down  the  Mohawk 
River,  and  fall  back  upon  Schenectada,  at  the  same  time 
that  the  main  army  was  to  attack  Albany.  He  adds 
that  it  was  currently  reported  by  their  officers  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Vermont  were  to  join  them  on  their  arri- 
val at  Crown  Point, — of  which,  from  other  accounts, 
there  seems  to  be  some  reason  to  be  apprehensive. 

"  General  Bailey  also  writes  by  express,  that  he  has 
similar  accounts  through  other  channels.  I  have  con- 
versed with  an  intelligent  officer  commanding  on  our 
frontiers,  who  confirms  this  account,  and  assures  me  that 
some  of  his  party  have  reconnoitred  the  enemy  at  Isle- 
aux-Noix,  and  find  their  numbers  about  four  thousand  ; 
and  through  a  secret  channel  I  have  discovered  that  the 
army  is  commanded  by  Major  General  Clark;  that  their 
object  is  Albany  ;  and  that  they  are  in  full  expectation 
of  being  joined  by  Vermont, — of  which,  from  evidence 
I  have  this  moment  received,  I  have  little  reason  to  doubt. 

"  As  your  Lordship  commands  the  Western  depart- 
ment, it  was  thought  proper  by  the  Judges  of  the  Su- 
perior Court,  now  sitting  here,  and  all  the  officers  in  this 
quarter,  to  despatch  an  express  to  your  Lordship  with 
the  foregoing  intelligence,  that  you  may  take  the  proper 
measures  to  frustrate  the  enemy's  designs.  It  is  difficult 
to  conjecture  what  may  be  their  intentions.  Possibly 
the  plan  for  forming  a  junction  of  the  two  armies  on 
Hudson's  River,  may  be  again  in  contemplation  ;  but 
making  a  diversion  in  that  quarter  to  weaken  General 
Washington,  and  then  bringing  him  to  action,  is  still 
more  probable.  There  is,  indeed,  a  possibility  that  their 
intention  is  to  establish  themselves  on  this  side  the 
Lake,  secure,  and  bring  over  to  their  measures  those  in- 


•256  THE  LIFE  0P  LORD  STIRLING. 

habitants  of  Vermont  who  are  ignorant  of  the  designs  of 
their  leaders,  and  may  probably  attempt  to  make  oppo- 
sition when  the  plot  is  discovered.  Your  Lordship  will, 
I  am  convinced,  use  every  effort  to  discover  and  frustrate 
their  designs,  whatever  they  may  eventually  appear  to  be. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  measures  adopted  by  Lord  Stirling  in  conse- 
quence of  General  Sullivan's  information  appear  from  the 
following  letters. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Dearborn  to  M.G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

"  Garrison,  Saratoga.  October  8th,  1782. 

"  My  Lord, — I  this  morning  had  the  honour  of  re- 
ceiving your  Lordship's  letter  of  yesterday  ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which  I  sent  a  Captain  with  a  small  party  to 
Skenesborough,  w7ith  directions  to  take  every  measure  in 
his  power  for  gaining  intelligence  respecting  the  move- 
ments your  Lordship  mentioned ;  and  in  such  manner 
as  to  give  the  Vermonters  no  reason  to  suspect  his  busi- 
ness. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  Same  to  the  Same. 

'••  Garrison,  Saratoga,  October  14th,  1782. 

"  My  Lord, — By  the  bearer  I  send  a  prisoner  to 
your  Lordship,  who  was  taken  near  Hubbartstown  in 
Vermont,  by  a  small  party  sent  out  from  Skenesborough, 
by  an  officer  sent  there  to  procure  intelligence.  The 
Corporal  who  took  him  held  a  conversation  with  him 
for  an  hour  or  two,  where  he  first  met  him,  intimating 
that  he  and  the  two  men  with  him  were  deserters,  and 
wished  to  get  to  Canada.     The  prisoner  very  soon  in- 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  257 

formed  him  that  he  was  from  Canada,  and  was  a  recruit- 
ing officer  from  Rogers's  corps,  and  said  many  things  to 
induce  them  to  enlist  with  him,  and  promised  to  conceal 
them  till  he  could  send  them  safe  to  St.  John's.  The 
prisoner's  name  is  Fifield ;  he  is  from  that  part  of  New- 
Hampshire  where  I  belong  :  I  am  acquainted  with  his 
family,  and  suspect  he  has  been  sent  to  Canada,  by 
some  man  or  men,  for  some  particular  purpose.  He  has 
said  that  Captain  Pritchard  from  Rogers's  corps  was  to 
hunt  not  far  from  Ticonderoga,  until  the  express  re- 
turned from  New-York.  I  suppose  Pritchard  is  in  Lake 
George,  with  his  boat.  A  small  scout  of  mine  returned 
from  thence  last  evening,  which  informs  that  a  sail-boat 
was  in  the  Lake.  I  have  sent  a  scout  off  this  morning 
to  hunt  him  up. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

It  does  not  appear  that  any  thing  more  was  done  in 
this  affair,  for  upwards  of  a  month ;  when  the  following 
instructions  were  sent  by  Lord  Stirling  to  the  officer 
detached  by  Colonel  Dearborn,  whose  object  was  not  so 
much  the  apprehension  of  deserters,  as  to  watch  the 
movements  of  persons  in  Vermont  suspected  to  be  in 
correspondence  with  the  enemy. 

M.  G.  the  Earl  of  Stirling  to  Captain  E.  Macomber.* 

«  Albany,  December  20th,  1782. 

"  Sir, — When  you  arrive  at  Arlington,  you  are  to 
call  on  Governor  Chittenden  with  my  compliments,  and 
ask  his  advice  with  regard  to  the  best  method  of  appre- 
hending the  deserters  you  are  in  pursuit  of,  and  his 
assistance   in    procuring  sleighs   and   horses;    and  his 

*  He  had,  probably,  verbal  instructions  as  to  the  real  object  of  his  mission. 

17 


253  THE  L1FE  0F  L°RD  STIRLING. 

recommendation  to  all  officers,  civil  and  military,  in 
each  township  you  are  to  go  through,  to  do  the  like  ;  for 
which  services  you  are  to  give  your  orders  on  the  A.  D. 
Q.  M.  at  this  post,  and  they  shall  be  punctually  paid. 
You  will  pass  through  the  towns  of  Arlington,  Sunder- 
land, Stratton,  New  Fane,  and  Brattleborough,  at  the 
two  last  of  which  I  am  told  there  are  a  number  of 
deserters  ;  and  you  will  detach  to  the  right  and  left,  as 
you  find  necessary. 

"  I  am,  &c." 

Here  the  correspondence  of  Lord  Stirling  was 
brought  to  a  sudden  close  by  the  illness  which  within  a 
month  from  the  date  of  the  lajst  letter,  terminated  his 
life.  The  fatigue  of  body  and  mind  to  which  he  had 
been  subjected  during  his  command  on  an  important  and 
exposed  frontier,  superadded  to  the  hard  service  and  con- 
stant exposure  he  had  undergone  from  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war,  brought  on  a  violent  attack  of  the 
gout,  which  soon  proved  fatal.  He  died  at  Albany 
on  the  15th  of  January,  1783,  in  the  57th  year  of  his 
age,  and  was  buried  in  the  vault  of  his  wife's  ancestors 
within  the  walls  of  the  ancient  Dutch  Church  in  that 
city,  and  when  that  venerable  edifice  was  demolished, 
his  bones  were  removed  to  the  cemetery  belonging  to 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  which  he  was  a 
member.  His  funeral  was  solemnized  with  the  military 
observances  appropriate  to  his  rank,  and  the  religious 
rites  of  his  communion ;  and  the  ceremonies  of  the 
occasion  are  still  remembered,  by  the  elder  inhabitants 
of  that  city,  as  a  spectacle  of  extraordinary  interest  and 
solemnity.  He  left  a  widow,  and  two  daughters,  who 
have  been  spoken  of  more  than  once  in  the  course  of 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  £59 

this  narrative  ;  Mary  the  elder  married,  as  has  been 
mentioned,  to  Robert  Watts,  Esquire,  and  Catharine  the 
younger  to  Colonel  William  Duer, — all  now  deceased. 

The  death  of  Lord  Stirling  was  lamented  by  his 
brother  officers,  and  the  troops  he  had  commanded,*  as 
well  as  by  his  personal  friends.  He  was  regretted,  in- 
deed, by  all,  both  in  military  or  civil  life,  who  knew  him 
either  in  his  public  capacity  or  private  relations, — by 
many  also,  who,  without  knowing  him  personally,  were 
aware  of  the  loss  the  public  cause  had  sustained  in  being 
deprived,  at  a  critical  moment,  of  the  influence  of  his 
character,  and  the  benefit  of  his  services.  No  stronger 
evidence  could  have  been  given  of  the  estimation  in 
which  both  were  held,  than  is  afforded  by  the  manner 
in  which  his  death  was  communicated  to  Congress  by 
the  Commander-in-Chief, — by  the  Resolution  t  passed 
by  that  body  on  receiving  the  intelligence — and,  above 
all,  by  the  following  touching  letter  of  condolence  ad- 
dressed to  his  widow. 

General  Washington  to  the  Countess  of  Stirling. 

"Newburg,  20th  January,  1783. 

"My   Lady, — Having    been  informed   by  a  letter 

*  It  was  his  singular  good  fortune,  in  Chief,  in  a  manner  most  respectful  to  the 

the  course  of  the  war,  at  different  peri-  memory  of  the  late   Major  General  the 

ods,  to  have  had  under  his  command,  Earl  of  Stirling,  the  sense  Congress  en- 

every  brigade   in  the  American    army,  tertain  of  the  early  and  meritorious  ex- 

except   those   of    South   Carolina    and  ertions  of  that  General  in  the  common 

Georgia.  cause,  and  of  the  bravery,  perseverance 

t  "  In  Congress,  January  28th,  1783.  and  military  talents  he  possessed  ;  which 
The  Commander-in-Chief  having,  in  a  having  fixed  their  esteem  for  his  char- 
letter  of  the  20th,  informed  Congress  of  acter  while  living,  induce  a  proportion- 
the  death  of  Major  General  Lord  Stir-  ate  regret  for  the  loss  of  an  officer  who 
ling — on  motion  of  Mr.  Peters,  seconded  has  rendered  such  constant  and  impor- 
by  Mr.  Dickinson,  Resolved,  that  the  taut  services  to  his  country." 
President  signify  to  the  Commander-in 


260  THE  LIFE  0F  LORD  STIRLING. 

from  Captain  Sill,  of  the  unspeakable  loss  which  your 
Ladyship  has  experienced,  I  feel  the  sincerest  disposition 
to  alleviate  by  sympathy  those  sorrows  which  I  am  sen- 
sible cannot  be  removed  or  effaced.  For  this  purpose  I 
would  also  have  suggested  every  rational  topic  of  con- 
solation, were  I  not  fully  persuaded  that  the  principles 
of  Philosophy  and  Religion  of  which  you  are  possessed, 
had  anticipated  every  thing  I  could  say  on  the  subject. 

"  It  only  remains  then,  as  a  small,  but  just  tribute  to 
the  memory  of  Lord  Stirling,  to  express  how  deeply  1 
share  the  common  affliction,  on  being  deprived  of  the 
public  and  professional  assistance,  as  well  as  the  private 
friendship,  of  an  officer  of  so  high  rank,  with  whom  I 
had  lived  in  the  strictest  habits  of  amity,  and  how  much 
those  military  merits  of  his  Lordship,  which  rendered 
him  respected  in  his  lifetime,  are  now  regretted  by  the 
whole  army.  It  will  doubtless  be  a  soothing  consider- 
ation in  the  poignancy  of  your  grief,  to  find  that  the 
General  officers  are  going  into  mourning  for  him. 

"  Mrs.  Washington  joins  me  in  requesting  that  your 
Ladyship  and  Lady  Kitty  will  be  assured  that  we 
feel  the  tenderest  sensibility  on  this  melancholy  oc- 
casion.    With  sentiments  of  perfect  esteem  and  respect, 

"  I  am,  &c." 

The  man  thus  spoken  of  by  Washington  needs  no 
other  epitaph  or  monument.  But  it  would  perhaps  be 
deemed  a  failure  of  customary  duty  on  the  part  of  his 
biographer,  to  close  this  narrative  without  some  attempt 
to  sketch  the  character  of  the  deceased.  Fortunately, 
in  this  instance,  it  is  illustrated  by  his  acts,  and  their  re- 
sults. These  bear  witness  that  to  strong  native  powers  of 
mind,  he  added  industry  and  perseverance,  with  early 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  26 1 

acquired  habits  of  method  and  attention.  His  natural 
abilities  were  more  solid  than  brilliant — his  acquirements 
more  useful  than  uncommon.  His  education  was  such 
only  as  the  state  of  the  country  afforded,  but  he  received 
from  his  father  instruction  in  his  favourite  studies  of 
Mathematics  and  Astronomy,  which  rendered  him  no 
ordinary  proficient  in  those  sciences.  He  was  bred,  as  we 
have  seen,  a  merchant,  and  was  successfully  pursuing  his 
business,  when  he  was  induced  to  join  the  army  under 
General  Shirley, — first  as  a  Commissary,  afterwards 
as  Aid-de-Camp  and  Private  Secretary  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief. In  these  stations  he  served  several 
campaigns  in  the  war,  which  commenced  on  this  con- 
tinent in  1747  ;  and  the  result  of  his  military  experience 
was  especially  evinced  in  the  battles  of  Long  Island, 
Brandywine,  Germantown,  and  Monmouth,  in  all  of 
which  he  sustained,  as  we  have  seen,  a  conspicuous  and 
efficient  part.  In  an  evil  hour,  he  accompanied  General 
Shirley  to  England, — from  motives  more  consistent  with 
the  generosity  of  his  temper,  than  with  prudence  or  fore- 
thought ;  and  when  there,  he  was  persuaded  by  Shirley 
and  others  of  his  friends,  to  prefer  a  claim  to  what 
proved  to  be  a  barren  title.  The  prosecution  of  this 
claim  was  attended  with  heavy  pecuniary  expenses, 
which,  together  with  those  incident  to  his  prolonged 
residence  in  England,  of  which  it  was  the  cause,  laid 
the  foundation  of  subsequent  embarrassments.  Remark- 
able for  the  cheerfulness  and  hilarity  of  his  disposition, 
he  was  there  confirmed  in  those  convivial  habits  that  in- 
creased upon  him  in  after  life,  though  never  to  such  a 
degree  as  to  interfere  with  the  performance  of  his  pub- 
lic duties,  or  deprive  him  of  the  esteem  and  confidence 
of  his  official  superiors,  or  private  friends.     They  con- 


262  THE  LIFE  0F  L0RD  STIRLING. 

tributed,  nevertheless,  to  deepen  the  shade  cast  over  his 
latter  years  by  the  perplexity  of  his  affairs,  and  rendered 
more  striking  the  contrast  between  the  opening  and  close 
of  his  career.  Almost  from  his  first  entrance  upon  the 
active  duties  of  life,  he  was  engaged  in  the  service  of 
his  country.  Although  possessed  of  an  easy  fortune,  he 
devoted  a  large  portion  of  his  time,  with  his  peculiar 
talents  and  acquirements,  to  the  public,  in  that  department 
of  the  Colonial  government,  in  which  they  were  calcu- 
lated to  be  most  useful.  Early  imbued  with  sound 
principles  of  constitutional  liberty,  we  find  him,  when 
the  rights  of  the  Colonists  were  assailed,  among  the 
first  to  take  up  arms  in  their  defence;  and  notwithstand- 
ing his  social  and  personal  relations  with  Great  Britain, 
cultivated,  as  they  had  recently  been,  during  his  resi- 
dence in  the  metropolis  of  the  Empire,  and  brightened 
by  the  attentions  he  had  received  from  the  most  power- 
ful and  distinguished  of  her  sons,  he  did  not  for  a 
moment  hesitate  to  protest  against  her  usurpations,  and 
declare  in  favour  of  his  native  land.  From  that  moment, 
he  literally  devoted  his  life  and  fortune  to  her  cause — 
and  literally  lost  them  both. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution,  he  was 
possessed  of  large  landed  estates  in  New- York  and  New 
Jersey,  which,  though  charged  with  heavy  debts,  were 
estimated  at  the  time  to  be  worth  upwards  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  pounds  of  the  colonial  currency,  over  and 
above  all  incumbrances.  Before  joining  the  army,  he 
obtained  from  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  an  Act 
vesting  the  greater  part  of  his  real  property  in  that  State 
in  Commissioners,  to  sell  what  portion  of  it  might  be 
necessary  for  the  payment  of  his  debts,  and  to  manage 
the  residue  for  his  benefit.     The  whole  of  the  property 


THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING.  c^6S 

thus  conveyed  Vas  sold,  and  payment  made  in  con- 
tinental money,  then  a  lawful  tender ;  but  before  the 
Commissioners  had  proceeded  to  pay  his  debts,  the  Legis- 
lature repealed  the  tender  law  in  force  when  his  property 
was  sold.  Thus  were  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  rendered 
of  no  value,  from  the  rapid  depreciation  of  the  currency 
of  which  they  consisted,  and  thus  both  the  estate  and  the 
purchase  money  were  lost,  while  the  debts  remained  in 
force.  The  remnant  of  his  property  in  New  Jersey,  and 
the  whole  of  his  estate  in  New- York,  were  sacrificed  at 
forced  sales  by  creditors,  who  had  remained  within  the 
British  lines  and  adhered  to  the  enemy,  under  whose 
local  authority  the  judicial  proceedings  were  conducted  ; 
and  when  he  died,  he  left  nothing  but  the  certificates 
issued  by  the  State  of  New  Jersey  for  the  depreciation 
of  his  pay,  which,  on  his  death-bed,  he  delivered  to  his 
wife  for  her  future  support .*  Had  Lord  Stirling  taken 
part  with  the  mother-country  at  the  Revolution,  how  dif- 
ferent, in  all  probability,  would  have  been  his  fortunes  ! 
The  services  he  could  have  rendered,  and  the  sacrifices 
which  must  have  followed,  would  have  entitled  him  to 
at  least  as  liberal  a  compensation  as  was  made  by  the 
British  Government  to  any  of  the  Americans,  who  suf- 
fered the  confiscation  of  their  estates  by  their  adherence 
to  the  Royal  cause,  and  would,  doubtless,  have  included 
a  remuneration  for  the  territory  in  the  State  of  Maine, 
which  was  lost  to  him  by  the  treaty  of  peace,! — but  that 

*  Even   the  bounty  land  promised  by  t  By   the  adoption,  in  the  treaty  of 

Congress  to   those  officers  who   served  peace,  of  the  River  St.  Croix  as  part   of 

during  the  war,  was  denied  to  his  wid-  the  N.  E.  boundary  of  the  United  States* 

ow — although  he  died  between  the  pre-  Lord  Stirling  lost  the  lands  between  the 

liminary  and  definitive  treaties  of  peace  Penobscot  and  Kennebec  rivers,  granted 

— on    the    technical    ground    that    the  to  his  ancestors  by  James  I. 
war  continued  until  peace  was  actually 
proclaimed. 


264  THE  LIFE  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

he  preferred  the  public  cause  to  his  private  interest,  was 
but  in  consistency  with  the  principles  which  he  inherited 
from  his  father,  and  transmitted  to  his  descendants,  and 
is,  to  them,  a  subject  not  of  regret,  but  of  pride. 


APPENDIX. 


AUTOGRAPH  WILL  OF  LORD  STIRLING. 

This  is  the  last  Will  and  Testament  of  me,  William  Alexander 
Earl  of  Stirling,  Major  General  in  the  armies  of  the  free  United  States 
in  North  America. 

I  give,  devise,  and  bequeath  all  my  real  and  personal  estate  what- 
soever unto  my  dear  wife,  Sarah,  to  hold  the  same  to  her,  her  execu- 
tors, administrators  and  assigns.  But  in  case  of  her  death,  without 
giving,  devising,  and  bequeathing  by  will,  or  otherwise  selling  or 
assigning  the  said  estate,  or  any  part  thereof,  then  I  do  give,  devise, 
and  bequeath  ail  such  estate,  or  all  such  parts  thereof  as  shall  so  remain 
unsold,  undevised,  or  unbequeathed,  unto  my  daughter,  Lady  Catha- 
rine Duer,  the  wife  of  the  Honourable  William  Duer,  Esq.,  of  the 
State  of  New- York;  To  hold  the  same  to  her,  her  executors,  admin- 
istrators and  assigns.  And  I  do  appoint  my  said  dear  wife,  together 
with  my  said  daughter,  Catharine,  and  my  said  son-in-law,  William 
Duer,  Esq.,  or  either  of  them,  executors  of  this  my  last  will. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  this 
twenty-ninth  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty,  and  in  the  fourth  year  of  the  Independency 
of  the  United  States  in  North  America. 

STIRLING,     [l.  s.] 

(endorsed.) 

The  within  paper  writing  was  signed,  sealed,  published  and  de- 
clared, as  and  for  the  last  Will  and  Testament  of  the  within  named 
testator,  by  him,  in  presence  of  us,  who,  in  his  presence,  and  in  the 
presence  of  each  other,  subscribe  our  names  as  witnesses. 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston. 

W.  Barber. 

Wm.  Alex'r  Livingston. 


INDEX 


A. 

Abercrombie  (of  Tulliebody).  His  Charter- 
chest,  23. 

Alexander  (James).  Emigrates  to  America,  1  — 
Cause  of  his  leaving  Scotland,  ib. — Served 
under  the  Pretender,  2. — Arrives  at  New- 
York,  ib. — Employed  in  Secretary's  office, 
ib. — Appointed  Suiveyer-General  of  New- 
York  and  New  Jersey,  and  member  of  Council 
in  N.  Y.  ib. — Studies  and  practices  law,  3. — 
His  success  and  reputation,  ib  — Volunteers 
to  defend  Zenger,  4. — Disbarred  in  conse- 
quence, ib. — Restored  on  Death  of  Governor 
Cosby,  5 — Opposes  election  of  G.  Clark,  ib. — 
His  zealous  patriotism,  ib. — His  death,  how 
occasioned,  ib. — Distinguished  as  a  man  of 
science,  ib  — With  Franklin  and  others 
founds  "  American  Philosophical  Society," 
ib. — Corresp  mdence  with  Halley,  ib. — Re- 
ported to  be  presumptive  heir  to  Earl  of  Stir- 
ling, 10. 

Alexander  (Mrs.  James).  Widow  of  David 
Provoost,  6. — Marries  J.  Alexander,  ib. — En- 
gaged in  commerce  on  her  own  account,  ib. — 
Continues  business  during  his  life  in  her 
separate  name,  ib. — And  after  his  death, 
ib  — Her  death  and  character,  48. 

Alexander  (John).  His  relationship  to  First 
Earl  of  Stirling,  22. 

Alexander  (William).  His  birth,  1 Educa- 
tion, 6. — Taste  for  mathematics,  ib. — En- 
gages in  commerce,  ib. — Contracts  to  supply 
army,  7. — Joins  it  as  a  Commissary,  ib. — 
Appointed  Aid  and  Secretary  to  Geneial  Shir- 
ley, ib. — Serves  in  war  of  1756,  ib. — Ac- 
companies Shirley  to  England,  8. — Examined 
as  witness  at  the  bar  of  House  of  Commons, 
ib— His  introduction,  to  eminent  men,  9. — 
Repairs  to  Scotland,  11. — Prefers  claims  to 
Earldom  of  Stirling,  ib. — Visits  Gordon  Cas- 
tle, 12.— His  letter  to  P.  Grame.  16.— Served 
heir-male  to  last  Eatl,  21.— Question  on 
which  his  claim  depended,  24.  See  "  Stirling 
(6th  Earl  of)." 

Alexander  (Sir  William).  Grant  to  him  of 
Nova  Scotia,  19  and  37. — Do.  of  Long  Island, 
37. — Do.  of  Sagadahock,  38. — Secretary  of 
State  for  Scotland.  42.  See  "  Stirling  (1st 
Earl  of)." 

Alexandre  d'Hanache  (Compte).  His  letter  to 
Lord  S.,  243. 


Amherst  (Sir  Jeffrey).  Marches  from  New- 
York,  47.— Takes  Montreal,  48.— His  letter 
to  Lord  S.,  73. 

Amherst  (William).  Brother  of  Sir  Jeffrey  A., 
77.— His  letter  to  Lord  S.,  ib. 

Argyle  (John  Duke  of).  Hereditary  friend  of 
the  Alexanders,  2  — 'Great  Duke"  of  Sir 
Walter  Scott,  ib— Encourages  W.  Alexan- 
der to  claim  Earldom  of  Stirling.  10. 

Armstrong  (Gen.  John).  Commands  Pensyl- 
vania  Militia  at  Battle  of  Germantown,  176. 

Armstrong  (Gen.  John,  the  younger).  Son  of 
the  above,  176. — Notice  of  him,  ib. 

Army  (American).  Under  Lord  S.  at  New- 
York,  139.— Under  Washington,  arrives 
there,  160.— Its  numbers  at  that  time,  161. — 
Defeated  at  Long  Island,  166— Evacuates 
Now- York,  167,— Retreats'through  New  Jer- 
sey, 168.— Goes  into  winter  quarters  at  Mor- 
mtown,  ib. — Marches  to  Germantown.  173. — 
Advances  to  Wilmington,.Del.,  ib.— Crosses 
the  Brandy  wine,  ib.— Engages  British,  174.— 
Encamps  near  Germantown,  175. — Engages 
British,  176.— Encamps  at  Whitemarsh, 
177.— Retires  to  Winter  Quarters  at  Valley 
Forge,  179.— Numbers,  194.— Crosses  Dela- 
ware. 195. — Encamps  near  Monmouth  C.  H., 
196.— Engages  British,  197. — Marches  to  the 
Hudson,  crosses,  and  encamps  at  White 
Plains,  198.— Winters  at  Morristown,  206.— 
Advances  towards  New-York,  and  encamps 
at  Dobbs's  Ferry,  211.— Under  Lord  S.  at 
Saratoga,  226. 

Army  (British).  Abandons  Boston,  150.— Ar- 
rives at  New  York,  161. — Numbers,  ib. — 
Crosses  to  Long  Island,  162. — Embarks  on 
board  fleet,  172.— Lands  at  head  of  Elk, 
173. — Crosses  Brandywine,  174. — Engages 
American,  175. — Encamps  at  Germantown,  ib. 
— Engages  American,  176. — Retires  to  Phila- 
delphia, 177.— Evacuates  it,  195— Encamps 
near  Monmouth  C.  H.,  196.— Engages 
American,  ib. — Retreats  to  New- York.  198. 
— Under  Knyphausen  marches  from  N.  Y.  to- 
wards Springfield,  N.  J.,207.— Bums  it  and  re- 
treats, 208. — Under  St.  Leger  advances  from 
Canada  by  Lakes  Champlain  and  George, 
221.— Under  Cornwallis  surrenders  to  Gen. 
Washington,  229— St.  Leger  retreats,  ib. 

Army  (French).  Arrival  of  Rochambeau,  209. 
— Joins  American  on  Hudson,  211. — Pro- 
ceeds to  Virginia,  213. 


268 


INDEX. 


Battles.  Long  Island,  166— Brandy  wine,  173  — 
Germantown,  175. — Monmouth,  196. 

Blue  Mountain  Valley.  Captured  by  Lord  Stir- 
ling, 124. — Persona  assisting  in  capture,  125. 
— Disposition  of  her  cargi,  126. 

Boudinot  (Elisha).  His  letters  to  Lord  Stir- 
ling, 108,  136. 

Bouille  (Marquis  De).  Notico  of,  248.— Lord 
Stirling's  letter  to  him,  ib. 

Bradley  (Attorney  General  of  N.  Y.).  files 
information  against  Zeng'-r,  4. 

Brandywine.     Battle  of,  173. 

Brearly  (Colonel  David).  His  letter  to  Lord 
Stirling,  245. 

Budd  (Dr.  Barnabas).  Accomplice  of  S.  Ford, 
99. — Condemned  to  death  and  pardoned  ib. 
See  "  Ford,  Samuel." 

Burgoyne  (Gen,  John).  His  invasion  from 
Canada.  172. 

Burnet  (William).  Governor  of  New  York,  2. 
— Notice  of,  ib. 

Bute  (Eirl  of).  Encourages  W.  Alexander  to 
claim  Earldom  of  Stirling,  10. 

Butler  (Major  Pierce).    Notice  of,  88. 


Canada.     M.    Gen.  Thomas  appointed  to  com- 
mand expedition  to,  137. — Burgoyne's  inva- 
sion from,  172. 
Carmichael  (Alexander).      Chairman  of  Morris 
Co.    Committee   of   Safety,    140 — Letter  to 
him  from  Lord  Stirling,  ib. 
Clark   (Abraham).     His   letter  to   Lord    Stir- 
ling, 192. 
Cark  (George).      Acting  Governor    of   New 
York,  5.     His  election  opposed  by  J.  Alexan- 
der in  Council,  ib. 
Clarkson  (Matthew).     Introduced  by  Lord  Stir- 
ling to  Marquis  de  Bouille,  249.  Notice  of,  ib. 
Clinton  (B.  Gen.  George).     Encamps  at  Kings- 
bridge  with  N.  Y.  militu,lo  join  Lord  Stir- 
ling, 161. 
Clinton  (Sir  Henry).     Attacks  Lord  Stirling  at 
L.  Island,  162.  — Evacuates  Phil  idelphia,  195. 
— Encamps  at  Monmouth  C.  H.,  196.— Loses 
battle  and  retreats,  197. 
Colden  (Dr.  CadwaHader).     Chosen  member  of 
Council  by  Gov.  Burnet,  2. — Principal  author 
with    J.    Alexander     of    Report  on   Indian 
trade,  5. 
Columbia  College.    See  "  King's  College." 
Conway  Cabal.     Account  of,  180.     See  "Con- 
way." 
Conway  (M.  Gen.  Thomas).    Notice  of,  180.— 
His  'Cabal,"  ib.— His  letter  to  Gates,  183. — 
Detected   by  Lord   Stirling,    ib. — Appointed 
Inspector  General,  but  resigns,  184. —  II is  duel 
with  CadwaHader,   185. —  Woun  ed  and  re- 
pents, ib.—  Returns  to  France,  ib. 
Cooper   (Benjamin).     Accomplice   of  S.   Ford, 
99  — Condemned  to  death  and  pardoned,  ib. — 
His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling,  101.    See  "  Foid, 
Samuel." 
Cornwallis  (Earl).      Attacks   Lord  Stirling  at 
L.  Island,  162— Attacked  by  him,ib — 165.— 
Advances  to  the  "Short  Hills,"  l(i8.— Baffled 
by    Lord   Siirling,    169 — Skirmish   between 
them  near  Scotch  Plains,  170. —  Attacks  Lord 
Stirling  at  Brandywine,  174. — His  surrender 
at  York,  229—240. 
Cosby  (Governor).     His  Commissions  to  N.  Y. 
Judges,  4.     Mode  of  his  appointing  them,  ib. 
Coze  ( Daniel).     His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling,  89. 
Coze  (William).     His  letter  to   Lord  Stirling, 
71.— Recommends  Mr.  Francis,  ib. 


Dagge  (Henry).     Solicitor  in  London,  of  W. 

Alexander,  19. — His  letter  to  H.  Drummond, 

56. 
Dayton  (Co'onel    Elias).     Despatched  against 

Knyphausen,  207. 
Dearborn  (Lt.  Col.  Henry).     Succeeds  Stark  at 

Saratoga,  251. — His  letters  to  Lord  Stirling, 

ib.,  253,  256. 
Deborre{B.  Gen.).  His  conduct  at  Brandywine, 

174. — Inquiry  on  it  ordered,  ib. — Resigns,  ib. 
D'Estainv    (Compte).— Arrives    with    French 

fiVet,  199. 
De  Lancey  (Peter  Jun.L     Introduced   by  Lord 

Stirling  to   Mr.    Harley,   66.— His    letter  to 

Lord  Stirling,  67. 
Downshire  (Marchioness  of).     Descended  from 

Henry,  4th  Earl  of  Stirling,  62.— Her  Peti- 
tion to  the  Lords,  ib 
Drummond  (Henry)   Banker  and  friend  of  Lord 

Stirling,  51.— His  letter,  54 
Drummond  (Lord).     Son  of  Earl  of  Perth,  94. 

— Visits  Americaon  his  father's  busine-s.  ib. 

— Gives  his  parole  to  N.  Y.  Committee,  203. — 

His  voyage  to  Bermuda,  ib. — Attempts  to  ne- 
gotiate a  peace  with  Gen.  Washington,  ib. 
Duane  (James).     Notice  of,  8. — His   letter  to 

Lord  Stilling,  131. 
Duane  (John).      Desires  to   enter  army,  7. — 

Recommended  by  L.  Morris  to  Lord  Stirling, 

ib. 
Duer  (Lady  Catharine).      Daughter  of    Lord 

Stirling  80.— Her  leiter  to  hia>,  201. 
Duer  (William).     Son-in-law  of  Lord  Stirling, 

80.— His  conduct  in   reference  to   "Conway 

Cabal,"  1:3.— His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling,  212. 


Elliot  (Andrew).  Collector  of  New-York,  200. 
—  His  politeness  to  Lady  Stirling,  201. 

Elliot  (Captain).  His  victory  over  the  French 
Commodore  Thurot,  45. 

Enos  (B.  General).  Commands  Vermont  Mi- 
litia at  Castletown,  221.— His  letter  to 
Stark,  ib. 


Ferguson  (Mr.).  Counsel  of  W.  Alexander  in 
Edinburgh,  11.— His  opinion  on  claim  to 
Earldom,  ib. 

Ford  (Samuel).  Accused  of  forgery,  97.— Ac- 
count of  him,  98.— Escapes  from  prison,  ib  — 
Suspected  of  robbing  N.  J.  Treasury,  99. 

Franklin  (Benjamin).  Unites  with  J.  Alex- 
ander and  others,  in  founding  "  American 
Philosophical  Society,"  5.— Sent  to  England 
by  Pennsylvania  Assembly,  37.— His  conduct 
there,  ib.— His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling,  159. 

Franklin  (William).  Governor  of  New  Jersey, 
70  —Natural  son  of  Benjamin  F.,  80.— His 
appointment  not  acceptable,  ib.— Letters  to 
him  from  Lord  Stirling,  ib,  86,  109— His 
conduct  in  reference  to  robbery  of  Treasury, 
100.— His  let-ers  to  Lt.  Col.  Winds,  120.— 
His  parole  required  by  Lord  Stirling,  122.— 
Issues  Proclamation  for  assembling  Provin- 
cial Legislature,  ib. — Removed  from  New 
Jersey  by  order  of  Congress,  ib. — Returns  to 
England,  ib.— Death  and  character,  ib. 


Gage  (Lt.  General  Thomas).  His  letter  to 
Lord  Stirling,  78— Notice  of  him,  ib 

Oansevoort  (B.  General  Peter).  Commands 
brigade  of  Militia  under  Lord  Stirling,  229. 


INDEX. 


269 


Gates  (M,  General  Horatio).  Engages  in 
"  Conway  Cabal,"  181. — Appointed  Presi- 
dent of  Board  of  War,  184.— Challenged  by 
Wilkinson,  186.— Their  interview,  and  its 
result,  187. 

Germantown    (Battle  of),  175. 

Gordon  (Duchess  of).  Her  le  ter  to  W.  Alex- 
ander. 13. — Notice  of  her,  ib. 

Grwme  (Patrick).  His  letter  to  W.  Alexander, 
14. 

Grant  (M.  General).  Commands  left  wing  of 
British  army  at  Long  Island,  162.— Lord 
Stirling  opposes  him,ib  — His  boast  in  House 
of  Commons,  ib. —  His  conduct  to  Lady  Stir- 
ling and  her  daughter,  200-2. 

Greene  (M.  General  Nathanael).  Prevented 
by  illness  from  taking  part  in  battle  of  Long 
Island,  166. — Commands  right  wing  at  Mon- 
mouth, 197. — Pursues  Knyphausen  from 
Springfield.  208.— His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling, 
ib. 

Grcnville  (George).  Proposes  taxing  America, 
83. — Notice  of  him,  ib. 

H 

Hamilton  (Alexander).  His  merit  discerned  by 
Lord  Stirling,  136.— Captain  of  Artillery, 
139.— Aid  to  General  Washington.  181. 

Hamilton  (Andrew).  Volunteers  in  defence  of 
Zenger,  4 — Deputy  Governor  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, 14. —President  of  that  Province,  ib. 

Harley  (Thomas).  His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling, 
66. — Accepts  appointment  of  Counsel  to 
Agent  of  New-York,  ib. 

Haxjnes  (Samuel).  Accomplice  of  Ford,  99.— 
Condemned  to  death  and  pardoned,  ib.  See 
"  Ford  Samuel." 

Heath  (M.  General  John).  Commands  at  West 
Point,  232. — Lord  Stirling's  letter  to  him, 
233—  His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling,  248. 

Hollingsworth  (Lt.  Col.).  His  orders  from 
Lord  Stirling,  170. 

Hopkinson  (Francis).  Unites  with  J.  Alexan- 
der and  others,  in  founding  "  American 
Philosophical  Society,"  5. 

Howe  (Lord).  Arrives  with  fleet  at  New- 
York,  161. 

Howe  (Sir  William).  Lands  his  army  on 
Staten  Island,  161. — Crosses  to  Long  Island, 
162. — Recalls  troops  from  Staten  Island,  169. 
— Embarks  on  board  fleet  for  Chesapeake, 
172— Lands  at  head  of  Elk,  173.— Advances 
to  Brandy  wine,  and  engages  American  army, 
ib. — Recalled  at  his  own  request,  194. 

Humphreys  (Alexander).  His  claim  to  Earl- 
dom of  Stirling.  58. — Tried  for  forgery,  ib. — 
Consults  Mdlle.  Le  Normand,  59. 

I,  J 

Izard  (Ralph).     Notice  of,  87. 

Jay  (Sir  James).  Sent  lo  England  to  solicit 
aid  for  King's  College,  63. — Introduced  by 
Lord  Stirling  to  the  Earl  of  Bute  and  Lord 
Romney,ib. — Knighted  by  George  III.,  64. — 
His  success,  ib. — His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling, 
65. 

Johnston  (Mr.).  Counsel  in  Edinburgh  of  W. 
Alexander,  11, — His  opinion  on  claim  to 
Earldom,  ib. 

K 

Kempe  (John  Taber).  Attorney  General  of 
New-York,  88.— His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling, 
90.— Introduced  by  Lord  S.  to  Mr.  Wilmot, 
92. 


Kennedy  (Capt.  Archibald).  Afterwards  Earl 
of  Cassilis,  88. — Married  sister  of  R.  Watts, 
ib. — Settled  in  New  Jersey,  ib  — His  letter 
to  Lord  Stirling,  90. — Letter  to  him  from 
Lord  Stirling,  93. 

King's  College.  Efforts  of  Lord  Stirling  to 
procure  endowment  for  it,  64. 

King  (John).  Accomplice  of  S.  Ford,  98  — 
Assists  him  to  escape,  and  accompanies  him 
in  his  flight,  ib. 

Knyphausen  (General).  Marches  from  New- 
York  to  Springfield,  N.  J.,  207.— Burns  it 
and  retreats,  208. 


Lauzun  (Due  de).     Fails  to  arrive   at  Morris- 

ani.i  in  time  with  his  Legion,  212. 
Lee  (M.  Gen.  Charles).     His  opinion  of  Lord 
Stirling,    133.— Made   prisoner   at    Basken- 
ridge,19o. — Lord  Stirling's  observation  upon 
it,  ib. — Exchanged,  and   lakes  part  in   battle 
of  Monmouth,  196. —  His  conduct  there,  ib. — 
Arrested,  tried,   and   suspended,    198. — His 
death,  ib. 
Lee  (Major  Henry).     His  expedition  toPowles 
Hook,  204. — Despatched  in  pursuit  of  Knyp- 
hausen, 208 
Lee  (William  Philrpps).     Grandson  of  former 
Earl  of  Stirling,  29.— His  letter  to  W.  Trum- 
bull, 41.— His  letters  to  Lord  Stirling,  42,  43, 
45,  48. 
Le  JVormand  (Marie    Anne).     French  fortune- 
teller,  59. — Consulted   by  Humphreys,  ib. — 
Furnishes  him  with   furged   documen  s,  6J, 
61. 
Lincoln  (M.  Gen.  Benjamin).     Descends  Hud- 
son  in  boats,  and  takes  possession  of  Har- 
laem  Heights  212. 
Livingston  (Philip.  Jun.).      Nephew  to   Lord 
and  Lady  Stirling,  67. — Notice  of  him,  ib. — 
His  letters  to  Lord  Stirling,  ib.,  87. 
Livingston(  William).     Brother  in  law  of  Lord 
Stirling,   6. — Brigadier  General   of  Militia, 
129— Governor  of  New  Jeisey,  ib. — His  let- 
ter to  Lord  Stirling,  246. 
Long  Island.    Granted  to  1st  Earl  of  Stirling, 
37.— Battle  of,  166. 

M 

Macombrr  (Captain  E.).  Sent  to  Vermont  by 
Lord  Stirling,  2o7.— His  instructions    ib. 

Mc  Williams  (Major).  Aid  to  Lord  Stirling, 
182,—  Repeats  to  him  Wilkinson's  disclosuie 
of  "  Conwav  Cabal,"  ib. 

Maxwell  (B.  Gen.  William).  Commands  N.J. 
brigade  at  Brandywine,  173. — and  at  Ger- 
mantown, 175 — Receives  Lady  Stirling  and 
her  daughter  at  Elizabethtowrt,  200. 

M'fflin  (B.  Gen.  Thomas)  Engaged  in  "  Con- 
way Cabal,"  181. — Appointed  member  of 
Board  of  War,  184. 

Monckton  (Robert).  Served  under  Wolfe, 77. 
—Governor  of  New- York,  ib.  — His  reception 
on  returning  to  England,  ib. 

Monmouth.     Battle  of,  196. 

Monroe  (Lt.  Col.  James).  Aid  to  Lord  Stir- 
ling, 250. — His  letter   o  him,  ib. 

Morris  (Gouvernetn).  His  opinion  of  Zenger's 
case,  5. 

Morris  (Lewis,  Jun.).  His  letter  to  W.  Alex- 
ander, 7. — Recommends  John  Duane,  ib. 

Morris  (Robert  H.).  Chief  Justice  of  New 
Jersey,  9. — Governor  of  Pennsylvania  ib.— 
Unites  in  persuading  W.  Alexander  to  claim 
Earldom,  10.— His  letters  to  Lord  Stirling. 
71,  79. 


270 


INDEX. 


Morris  (Staats  L).  A  native  of  New-York, 
12. — Served  under  Shirley,  with  W.  Alex- 
ander, ib. — Married  Duchess  Dowager  of 
Gordon,  ib.— His  letter  to  W.  Alexander,  ib. 
— Ordered  to  India,  56. 

N 

Nash  (B.  General).  Killed  at  Germantown, 
177. 

Newcastle  (Duke  of).  Advises  Lord  Stirling 
to  petition,  35. 

Nova  Scotia.  Granted  to  1st  Earl  of  Stirling, 
37. — Claimed  under  C.  Delatour,  ib. — Re- 
gained from  French,  ib. 


Ogden  (Robert).  Chairman  of  Elizabethtown 
Committee  of  Safety,  128. — Letters  to  him 
from  Lord  Stirling,  ib. — His  letter  to  Lord 
Stirling,  133. 

Ogden  (Samuel).  His  controversy  with  Lord 
Stirling.  104.— His  letters,  ib,  15,  106.  107. 
— His  advertisement,  111. 


Palmer  (The  Rev.  George).  Applies  for,  and 
receives  appointment  of  Chaplain  to  Lord 
Stirling,  29. 

Penn  (John)  A  Proprietary  of  Pennsylvania, 
10. — Persuades  W.  Alexander  to  claim 
Earldom,  ib. — His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling, 
69. 

Penn  (Thomas).  A  Proprietary  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, 10.— Persuades  W.  Alexander  to 
claim  Earldom,  ib. 

Perth  (Earl  of).  A  Proprietary  of  East- Jer- 
sey, 94. — His  misunderstanding  with  Lord 
Stirling,  ib. 

Porteous  (The  Rev.  James).  Married  an  Alex- 
ander, 23. — Usefulness  to  W.  Alexander,  ib. 
His  character,  ib. — His  letter  to  Lord  Stir- 
ling, 27. 

Pringle  (Mr.).  Counsel  in  Edinburgh  for  W. 
Alexander,  11. — His  opinion  on  claim  to 
Earldom,  ib.— Created  a  Judge,  and  takes 
title  of  Lord  Alemoor,  22. 

Provoost  (David).  His  soubriquet,  how  ac- 
quired, 6.     See  "  Ready-money  Provoost." 

Putnam  (M .  Gen.  Israel).  Commands  on  Long 
Island,  166. — His  orders  to  Lord  Stirling, 
ib. 


Race  (Johannes).  Family  servant  of  J.  Alex- 
ander, 68.— His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling,  69. 

"  Ready-money  Provoost."  See  "  Provoost, 
David." 

Reynolds  (David).  Accomplice  of  S.  Ford,  99. 
—Condemned  to  death  and  executed,  ib.  See 
"  Ford,  Samuel  " 

Richardson  (Joseph).  Accomplice  of  S.  Ford, 
98— Escapes  with  him  from  prison,  ib.  See 
"  Ford,  Samuel." 

Rochambeau  (Compte  de).  Arrives  in  America 
with  French  army,  209. — His  interview  with 
Gen.  Washington,  210. — Joins  him  with  his 
army,  211. 

Rogers  (Major  Robert).  Commands  New 
llampshne  Rangers,  94. — His  exploits,  ib. 

Rornney  (Lord).  President  of  Society  for  en- 
couragement of  Arts,  &.c,  63. — Letter  to  him 
from  Lord  Stirling,  ib. 

Rumsey  (Colonel).  His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling, 
172. 


Rutherfurd  (Walter),  Brother  in-law  of  Lord 
Stirling,  6.— Informs  him  of  repeal  of  Stamp- 
Act,  83. — Receives  Lady  Stirling  and  her 
daughter  at  New- York,  200. 


S 

Sackville  (Lord  George).  His  trial,  44. — Found 
guilty  and  cashiered,  ib. — Created  a  Viscount 
and  appointed  Secretary  of  State,  ib. — His 
death,  ib. 

Sagadahock  (in  Canada).  Granted  to  1st  Earl 
of  Stirling,  38. — Agreement  respecting  it  be- 
tween Lord  Stirling  and  Messrs.  Trumbull 
and  Lee,  36,  44. 

Schuyler  (M.  Gen.  Philip).  Commands  Middle 
Department,  131.— His  letters  to  Lord  Stir- 
ling, 148 — 155. — Accompanies  Lord  Stirling 
to  Saratoga,  240. 

Shelburne  (Earl  of).  Letter  to  him  from  Lord 
Stirling,  74. — Notice  of  him,  ib. 

Shirley  (General).  Commander-in  chief  in 
America,  7.— Appoints  W.  Alexander  his  Aid 
and  Secretary,  ib. — His  plans  defeated,  8. — 
Returns  to  England,  ib. — Persuades  W.  Al- 
exander to  prefer  claim  to  Earldom,  10. 

"  Short- Hills."     Affair  of,  168. 

Skinner  (Stephen).  Treasurer  of  New  Jersey, 
97. — Reports  robbery  thereof  to  Governor,  ib. 
— Declared  by  Assembly  that  through  his 
neglect  it  happened,  ib. — Takes  measures  to 
exculpate  himself,  ib. — Charged  as  party  to 
robbery,  100. — Resigns,  ib. — Appointed  mem- 
ber of  Council,  ib. — Adheres  to  Crown  at 
Revolution,  101. 

Smith  (William  the  Elder).  Came  to  America 
in  same  ship  with  James  Alexander,  3. — 
Volunteers  with  him  to  defend  Zenger,  4. — 
Disbarred  in  consequence,  ib. — Restored  on 
death  of  Gov.  Cosby,  5. 

Smith  (William  the  Younger).  Historian  of 
New  York.  2 — His  character  of  J.  Alexan- 
der, 3. — Lord  Stirling's  letter  to  him,  95. 

Smith  (Lt.  Col.  W.  S .).  Notico  of.  249.— In- 
troduced by  Lord  Stirling  to  Marquis  Bouille, 
ib. 

Springfield  (N.  J.).     Burnt  by  British,  208. 

Stamp-Act  Proposed  by  G.  Gienville,  83. — Its 
execution  opposed  by  Lord  Stirling,  ib. — Its 
repeal,  ib. 

Stark  (B.  Gen.  John).  Commands  post  at  Sar- 
atoga, 214. — His  letters  to  Lord  Stirling,  ib., 
217, 219,  221,  223,  230,  236. 

St.  Croix.  Granted  to  1st  Earl  of  Stirling,  38. 
— See  "  Sagadahock." 

Stephen  (M.  General).  Cashiered  for  miscon- 
duct, 177. 

Stirling  (Henry,  3rd  Earl  of).  Conveys  Long 
Island  to  Duke  of  York,  37.— Sagadahock, 
how  included  in  grant,  38, 

Stirling  (Henry,  5th  Earl  of).  Died  in  1737. 
One  of  his  daughters  married  Sir  W.  Trum- 
bull, the  other  to  Mr-  Lee,  29. — Grandfather 
to  W.  Trumbull  and  W.  P.  Lee,  45. 

Stirling  (William,  1st  Earl  of),  His  rights'in 
America,  37.— Grant  to  him  of  Long  Island, 
38.— His  possession  under  it,  ib.  See  "  Al- 
exander, Sir  William." 

Stirling  (William,  6th  Earl  of).  His  descent, 
24.— Object  in  claiming  Earldom,  27. — His 
letters  to  A.  Stuart,  18,  34,  46.— Thinks  of 
settling  in  Scotland,  28. — Hires  house  in 
London,  30. — Petitions  Crown  to  confirm 
Title,  35. — Agreement  with  Messrs.  Trum- 
bull and  Lee,  36. — Returns  to  America,  49. 
— Commences  building  at  Baskenridge,  50. — 


INDEX. 


271 


Removes  to  New  Jersey,  ib. — Chosen  mem- 
ber of  Council,  ib. — Corresponds  with  his 
friends  in  Great  Britain,  51. — His  letters  to 
the  Earl  of  Bute,  ib.,  64.— His  occupations, 
85. — His  letter  to  Lord  Romney,  63. — To  the 
Earl  of  Shelburne,  74.— His  letters  to  Gov. 
Franklin,  87,  113.— His  letter  to  J.  T. 
Kempe,  91.—  To  H.  Wilmot,  92.— To  Capt. 
Kennedy,  93.— Gives  up  winter  residence 
in  New-York,  97. — His  controversy  with 
Col.  S.  Ogden,  104.— His  letters  to  him, 
105,  107,  108.— His  conduct  upon  the  taxa- 
tion ot  the  Colonies,  113.— Chosen  to  com- 
mand regiment  of  Militia,  ib. — Conduct  of 
Governor  Franklin  thereupon,  ib. — Appoint- 
ed to  command  1st  N.  J  regiment  of  Conti- 
nental troops,  114. — His  leiters  to  the  Pres- 
ident of  Congress,  116,  118,  119,  121,  126, 
129.132,  148.— Suspects  Gov.  Franklin  of  a 
design  to  escape,  119. — Exacts  his  parole. 
122.— Plans  expedition  from  Elizabethtown, 
and  captures  a  British  Transport,  124.— Re- 
solution of  Congress  thereupon,  ib. — His 
letter  to  Robert  Ogden  128.— Promoted  to 
be  Brigiidier  General,  130.— His  letter  from 
President  of  Congress,  130.— Commands  at 
New- York,  133.— His  operations,  134 — His 
letter  to  Col.  Ward,  135.— Discerns  merit 
of  Hamilton,  136.— His  letters  to  Gen. 
Schuyler,  137,  151.— His  force  at  New- 
York,  140.— His  letter  to  A.  Carmichael,  ib. 
—To  Gov.  Trumbull,  141.— To  Gen.  Wash- 
ington, 144,  163,  207,  237.— His  "Regula- 
tions" at  New-York,  145.— Repairs  to  New 
Jersey  to  prepare  for  its  defence,  156. — His 
letter  to  S.  Tucker,  157.— To  B.  Gen.  Liv- 
ingston. 158. — Commands  again  at  New- 
York,  160. — Constructs  fortifications  for  its 
defence,  ib.— Commands  right  wing  at  Bat- 
tle of  L.  Island,  162. — Encounters  Gen. 
Grant,  ib.— Attacked  in  rear  by  Cornwallis, 
163. — Secures  retreat  of  detachment,  ib. — 
Made  prisoner,  ib.— His  conduct  approved, 
ib. — Highly  commended  by  Washington,  166. 
— Exchanged  for  Gov.  Brown,  163. — Rejoins 
army  in  New  Jersey,  168— Ordered  to  the 
Delaware,  ib. — Then  to  watch  British  at 
Princeton,  169. — Promoted  to  be  Major  Gen- 
eral, ib. — Advances  to  support  parties  on 
lines,  ib. — Encounters  Cornwallis  and  com- 
pelled to  retreat,  170.— Seizes  upon  passes 
and  prevents  his  advance,  ib. —  His  letter 
to  Col.  Hollingsworth,  ib. — Detached  with 
his  division  to  the  Hudson,  172. — Recal  ed, 
173. — Marches  with  army  to  Germantown, 
ib. — Thence  to  Wilmington,  ib.— Retires 
with  it  to  Brandywine,  ib. — Battle  of  Bran- 
dywine,  174. — Conduct  of  Lord  Stirling,  ib. 
Battle  of  Germantown,  175  — Commands 
Reserve,  ib. — Gen.  Sullivan's  account,  176. 
— Lord  Stirling's  plan  for  attack  of  Philadel- 
phia, 178 — Deiects  •'  Conway  Cabal,"  180, 
182. — His  correspondence  with  Wilkinson, 
188. — Commands  left  wing  at  Monmouth, 
197. — His  conduct  therein,  ib. — Presides  at 
Court  Martial  upon  Gen  Lee,  198.— Order- 
ed to  take  command  in  New  Jersey,  204. — 
Marches  to  Pompton  Plains,  204.— Detaches 
Major  H.  Lee  to  Powles  Hook,  205.— Sup- 
ports his  expedition,  and  covers  his  retreat, 
ib. —  Receives  thanks  of  Congress,  206.-  His 
expedition  to  Staten  Island,  ib. — Reinforces 
Gen.  Greene  at  Springfield,  208.— His  opin- 
ion in  Council  of  War,  209.— Ordered  to 
Albany  to  command  Northern  Depaitment, 


214. — Orders  troops  to  Saratoga,  215. — His 
letters  to  Stark.  216,  220,  223,  229,230,  235. 
— Repairs  to  Saratoga,  224.— Issues  order  of 
battle,  226.— Prepares  to  act  offensively, 
229.— His  letters  to  Col.  Willet,  232,  235  — 
To  M.  Gen.  Heath,  233.— Attempt  to  make 
him  prisoner  defeated,  242. — Ordered  to 
take  command  in  New  Jersey,  243.— Es- 
tablishes his  head-quarters  at  Philadelphia, 
within  his  district,  245.— Ordered  to  Fishkill 
to  preside  at  Board  of  Officers,  247.— Order- 
ed to  command  of  Northern  Department, 
249.— His  letter  to  Capt.  Macomber,  257.— 
His  illness  and  death,  258. — Resolution  of 
Congress,  259. — Letter  of  condolence  from 
Gen  Washington  to  his  widow,  ib. — His 
character,  260. 

Stirling  (Countess  of).  Visits  her  daughter 
at  New-York,  200— Her  letter  to  Lord 
Stirling,  ib. 

St.  Leger  (Colonel).  Advances  from  Canada 
to  Lake  George,  222.— Retreats,  229. 

Stuart  (Andrew).  Writer  in  Edinburgh,  11 
— Employed  by  W.  Alexander,  to  prosecute 
claim  to  Earldom,  ib. — His  standing  in  socie- 
ty, 18.— His  letters  to  W.  Alexander,  19,  21. 
30,  32,  40. 

Sullivan  (M.  Gen.  John).  His  position  at  Bat- 
tle of  Long  Island.  166 — His  account  of  it, 
ib— His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling, 254. 


Tcrnay  (Chevalier  de).  Ar.ives  with  French 
fleet,  209. — His  interview  with  Gen.  Wash- 
ington, 210, 

Thomas  (M.  G.  John).  Appointed  to  com- 
mand in  Canada,  137. 

Thompson  (Mr.).  Writer  in  Crief,  25.—  Em- 
ployed by  StewaTt  on  behalf  of  VV.  Alexan- 
der, ib. — Attends  service,  ib. 

Thompson  (Brig.  Gen.  William).  Takes  com 
mand  at  New  York,  145.— Ordered  to  Cana- 
da, 160. 

Townshend  (Charles).  His  letter  to  W.  A'ex- 
ander,  9— Persuades  him  to  prefer  claim  to 
Earldom,  10—  Giyes  satisfac  ion  as  Chan- 
cellor of  the  Exchequer,  55. 

Treasury  of  New  Jersey.  Robbery  of,  97.  See 
"  Ford,  Samuel,"  "  Skinner,  Stephen." 

Troup  (Col.  Robert).     Aid  to  Gen.  Gates,  186. 

Trumbull.  (Jonathan).  Governor  of  Connecti- 
cut, 141.— Lord  Stirling's  letter  to  him,  ib. — 
His  letierto  Lord  S.,  153. 

Trumbull  (William).  Notice  of,  29.— His  let- 
ters to  Lord  Stirling,  28.  29,  42,  153. 

Thurot  (Commodore).  His  engagement  with 
Elliot's  Squadn  n,  and  death.  4.3. 

Tucker  (Samuel).  Chairmnn  N.  J.  Committee 
of  Safety,  157. — Lord  Stirling's  letter  to  him, 
ib. 

V. 

Van  Rensselaer  (Brig.  Gen.  James).  Com- 
mands brigade  of  militia  under  Lord  Stil- 
ling, 229. 

W. 

Walbridge  (Colonel).    His  letter  to  Gen.  Stark, 

222 
Ward  (Colonel).     Stationed  with  his  regiment 

on  Long  Island,  135. — His  orders  from  Lord 

Stirling,  ib. 
Washington  (General).      His    letters  to  Lord 

Stirling,   123,  143,   150,   194— Arrives  with 

army  at  New-York,  160.— Evacuates  it,  167. 

—  Proposes  exchange  of  Lord  Stirling,  ib. — 


272 


INDEX. 


His  retreat  into  New  Jersey,  168— Encamps 
at  Moinstown,  ib.— Reassembles  army  at 
Middlebrook,  169. — Advances  to  Quibble- 
town,  ib. — Concerts  plan  for  attacking  New- 
York,  209,  211. — Advances  to  Valentine's 
Hill,  212.— Plan  for  attacking  New-York, 
again  f  rmed  and  abandoned,  213. — Proceeds 
with  army  to  Virginia,  ib.  See  l>  Army, 
American." 

Watts  (Lady  Mary).  Daughter  of  Lord  Stir- 
ling, 80. 

Watts  (Robert).  Son-in-law  of  Lord  Stirling, 
80. — Remains  in  New- York  during  Revolu- 
tionary war,  199. 

Wayne  (M.  Gen.  Anthony).  His  conduct  at 
Germantown.  175  — At  Monmouth,  197. 

Wedderburn  (Alexander).  Counsel  of  W.  Al- 
exander, II. — Account  of,  ib. — His  opinion 
in  favor  of  claim  to  Earldom,  ib. 

Wilkinson  (Colonel  James).  Reveals  "  Conway 


Cabal,"  184. — Appointed  Secretary  of  Board 
of  War,  185.— His  conduct  to  Gates,  187.— 
His  correspondence  with  Lord  Stirling,  ll8. 
— Appointed  Clothier  General,  ib, 

Willet  (Lieut.  Col.  Marinus).  Detached  west- 
ward from  Albany,  220. — His  attack  near 
Johnstown,  229. — His  defeat  and  pursuit  of 
the  enemy,  230. 

Wilmot  (Henry).  His  letter  to  Lord  Stirling, 
84. 

Winds  (Lieut.  Col.  William).  His  letters  to 
Gov.  Franklin,  120,  121. 

Witherspoon  (Dr.  John).  His  sarcasm  upon 
Wilkinson,  182. 


Zenger  (Peter).  His  trial,  4 — Defended  by  J. 
Alexander,  and  W.  Smith,  ib. — His  acquittal 
ib.— Importance  of  his  case,  5. 


14  DAY  USE 

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